A terminally ill Doncaster woman wants to leave her two young daughters the best memories she can before breast cancer ends her life

No mother in their 30s expects to have to say goodbye to their children but breast cancer has forced a Doncaster woman to do just that.
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Jess Allen thought that she was cancer free after getting the all clear in August 2020.

She had previously undergone treatment for Triple Negative Breast Cancer which she was diagnosed with in 2019.

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After chemotherapy and a mastectomy the cancer was gone but sadly she did not stay in remission.

Jess with her daughters Eliza and Daisy.Jess with her daughters Eliza and Daisy.
Jess with her daughters Eliza and Daisy.

The cancer returned less than a year after she thought she was rid of the nightmare forever, and this time it’s terminal.

Jess who is aged 34 and lives in Harworth has been told she could have just months to live.

The mum of two is now on a mission to make as many memories with her two young daughters as possible.

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Jess said: “Back in July I found little purple spider web veins around my mastectomy.

Jess is on a mission to make special memories.Jess is on a mission to make special memories.
Jess is on a mission to make special memories.

“But I didn’t think anything was wrong.

“My oncologist was confident they removed all of the cancer last year.

“But after a couple of days I found pea sized lumps and I knew something wasn’t right.”

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They have a couple of family trips planned in the next few months.They have a couple of family trips planned in the next few months.
They have a couple of family trips planned in the next few months.

Jess went straight to the doctors and after a biopsy it was confirmed that the Triple Negative Breast Cancer had returned.

The cancer is extremely aggressive and hard to treat.

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As it has moved to behind her breast bone doctors have told her it is not possible to remove.

The focus is now on extending the time she has left.

Jess wants to encourage women to check their breasts regularly.Jess wants to encourage women to check their breasts regularly.
Jess wants to encourage women to check their breasts regularly.

“I’m doing chemotherapy again,” she continued.

“In the hopes of slowing the cancer down.

“There’s not much else I can do.”

Her number one aim is to create special memories for her daughters Eliza who is seven and Daisy who is four.

“They’re such good girls,” Jess said.

“They deserve so much more than this.

“They don’t deserve for me to leave them.”

Jess has always been a hands-on mum with her girls and is heartbroken that her time with them will be cut short.

“I have to push through the pain for them,” she continued.

“I want to make as many happy memories as possible for them.

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“So that they can look back and remember good times in future years.

“There are so many things in their lives I won’t be there for.

“I should be there, it's so unfair.”

Jess has planned a trip to Edinburgh with the girls where they will dress like Disney princesses and stay in a castle.

They will also travel down to Cornwall to spend some quality time together.

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Jess also wants to raise money to leave the girls as she has not been able to acquire life insurance.

“I have Crohn's disease so I can’t get any help,” she said.

“I don’t have anything to leave them behind.”The emotional turmoil of Jess’s situation has caused her to reflect and she wants to encourage women to frequently check their breasts.

“I never dreamt that I’d get cancer,” she said.

“It came at me completely out of the blue.

“If I had found the lump earlier I might have had longer to live - more time with my girls.

“I admit checking myself wasn’t something I ever did.

“I thought ‘I’m in my 30s. I'm fine.’

“But I wasn’t.”

Joanne Summerscales is a friend of Jess.

She is helping to raise funds and being a strong emotional support to the family.

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She said: “You never think that you will have to tell your kids that you're going to die.

“Life is not fair, she has been robbed and so have the girls.

“Jess is so caring and would do anything for anybody.”

Joanne is hosting a raffle to raise money for Jess – tickets are available to buy from her [email protected].

Jess wants to thank charities who have helped her and her children on her mission to make memories.

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Evestrust is a Doncaster based charity who support local families who are suffering with cancer.

They have sent Jess a lump sum of money to help with bills, arranged a caravan holiday and a photo shoot.

Team Verrico sent her to a specialist oncologist in London for a second opinion.

If anyone is able to send a donation to Jess you can do so here.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Liam Hoden, editor.