'Cancer gene is in my family - I want to help Doncaster women touched by the illness'

Her mum has twice battled the disease, and gene tests on two of her sisters led them to decide on mastectomies because of their own risk of breast cancer.

But both were cancelled due to the current coronavirus crisis.

Sarah herself, aged 38, is waiting for the results of the same tests.

Now she is fighting back for those who are affected by the illness – by planning to help patients who are recovering from the disease by offering them free semi permanent eyebrows at the Doncaster salon where she works when lockdown ends.

Sarah, who rents a chair at The Lash loft and beauty in Thorne said her mum went through treatment for breast cancer last year.

She said: “I watched my mum go through chemotherapy. She didn’t lose her hair, but she did lose her eyebrows. They have grown back now.

“I don’t know if I’ve got the gene that puts me at risk yet. I’m waiting for the test. If it is positive, I would look at a mastectomy. I have my children to think about, and I will not risk my life for vanity. It would be like living with a ticking time bomb.

“Mum had a lump removed and chemo last year.”

Sarah is planning to involve the Aurora Centre in her plans.

The Aurora Centre was set up at Doncaster, Bassetlaw and Mexborough Montagu Hospitals to provide non-clinical therapies for cancer patients to help them feel better and more confident, such as beauty therapy. It had to close temporarily due to lockdown.

It holds a fashion show, where the models are patients.

“My mum did modelling for the Aurora,” said Sarah. “It’s about empowering women and improving their self confidence.

“I’m planning to get Aurora involved, and want to start offering the treatment to recovering patients as soon as I can get back to work after lockdown.

“I want to give something back. I saw what my mum went through and want to do something to make people feel better.”