A mum is confronting what might be her final Christmas after a lump she believed was linked to breastfeeding proved to be fatal cancer. Angel Madu, 39, describes herself as being "healthy as a horse" when she began feeling chest discomfort in December 2022.

Initially, she put the pain down to nursing her son or workplace stress. But when the symptoms persisted after several weeks, she decided to visit her GP as a precaution, who sent her to a breast clinic for safety. That very week, the A&E nurse from Kings Langley received the shocking diagnosis of stage two breast cancer, leading to surgery and chemotherapy.

In 2024, the disease had spread to her liver, lungs, bones, and lymph nodes - rapidly progressing to stage four cancer - and the mother-of-two explored every available treatment. However, this month brought the heartbreaking news that no NHS treatments remain - leaving her with just days to weeks to live.

She explained: "Something in me just said 'go check it out.' I didn't think much of it, and neither did the consultant, we just thought it was from breastfeeding my son.

"I wasn't expecting it because I am as fit as a horse. I never fall sick. I pay a lot of attention to my health and diet. I am the type of person who will pick up food and read the label. How do you comprehend being told you are going to die? My fear is leaving my beautiful children without a mother.

"It was a shock. I am trying to be positive and focus on the hope as I still have breath. Every day is a blessing. I am not giving up on the fight."

The mum has now secured flights for December 23 to travel to Mexico for specialist cancer treatment as her final chance to battle back. But the year-long therapy comes with a staggering £75,000 price tag and must begin straight away if Angel is to have any hope of surviving.

A fundraising campaign launched by her church has already pulled in more than £30,000, yet the nurse has still made an enormous gamble that the remaining funds will materialise in time.

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She and her husband Henry Okoye, 40, depart today (Tues), leaving their two youngsters aged four and eight with relatives in the hope this won't be Angel's final Christmas. She explained: "Finding out about this treatment really gave my family hope to pick up and fight again.

"Our finances have taken a big hit since 2023 with me unable to work. It has really been a lot, so we didn't know how we would ever raise enough money to pursue this hope.

"We were lucky to get a space for this year, but the only downside is that you have to pay everything before they start. That is where the urgency and desperation lies right now.

"It blows my mind the number of people that I don't even know who have donated. It is overwhelming to see. I can't even put it into words. I am so grateful to everyone. We have taken a leap of faith."

Gemma Gardener, 44, from Angel's church set up the fundraising campaign and vows she'll move heaven and earth to help the dedicated nurse who served on the Covid-19 frontlines. The mum-of-four explained: "She is not ready to give up. She is only 39, it is just so soon. She has so much life to live.

"She is a nurse of 15 years, so she is always helping everyone. It took her a while to tell us because she is not used to being the one in need of help, she is the helper. She is just one of the most giving selfless people I know. She is incredible. She was frontline in Covid-19.

"She has booked plane tickets to Mexico in faith, not knowing if she will be able to afford the treatment. She is giving up potentially her last Christmas with her kids for this treatment.

"She is someone that everybody loves. My heart just breaks for them. She has given so much to the world, and it is time that the world gives something back."

Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/keep-an-angel-on-earth.