A BOLTON mum-of-two celebrated getting the all clear from breast cancer with a holiday to Iceland and says she is living life to the full again after nine months of challenging treatment.

Ann-Marie Rigg, 33, of Radcliffe Road, Bolton, was diagnosed with breast cancer last April.

Now her treatment is over, she is determined to make every moment count and the celebrated the end of her treatment by seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland and bathing in the Blue Lagoon without her wig earlier this year.

Her experience is driving her to back Cancer Research UK’s ‘Right Now’ campaign and call on people in Bolton and the North West to get involved.

The charity’s powerful and emotive ‘Right Now’ TV ads show real patients undergoing cancer treatment within the last few years, followed up by current home video showing how research has helped them get back to enjoying life with their loved ones.

In sharing stories of these individuals – like Ann-Marie – who have faced their own cancer journeys, the campaign aims to pull people closer to the cause and show how actions taken right now can make a real tangible difference in helping more people survive.

Ann-Marie hopes to draw attention to the impact cancer research has had on her own life – giving her more precious time with the people she loves.

The reality of cancer hit home, when she was diagnosed on 6 April last year after finding a lump while she showered. She went to her GP the next day and was referred to Bolton Breast Clinic where she had a mammogram and a biopsy. When she returned for the results two weeks later she heard the words she had cancer.

She said: “The doctor told me “it’s not good news” and then my breast care nurse explained the procedure and what would happen. At that stage they only had bits of information and needed to find out more about my breast cancer to be able to work out the treatment strategy. I remember being quite calm and collective while my husband Chris was devastated. I was thinking how am I going to tell people. I think the first thing I said was “what do we do?”. I wanted to know how to move forwards what would happen next and my best line of treatment.”

Further tests showed Ann-Marie had triple negative breast cancer – a rarer type of breast cancer. Around 15 out of every 100 breast cancers (15%) are triple negative.

She began chemotherapy at Bolton Hospital in May to shrink the 2.5cm tumour - three weeks after returning from a planned trip to Florida with her husband Chris, 32, and children Katie,14, and Greyson, aged four. The chemotherapy lasted until September and Ann-Marie then had surgery - a lumpectomy - to remove the tumour in October. After this doctors were able to tell her there was no trace of the cancer. Annmarie went on to have 15 sessions of radiotherapy which finished in December as a preventative measure.

She said: “When they told me there was no trace of cancer - it was amazing. And I did cry then!”

Ann-Marie said: “My family and friends have been absolutely amazing. I couldn’t have asked for better.

“My little boy Greyson wasn’t aware I had cancer. He was only three at the time and I didn’t want him to worry so I created a story about me being a superhero to help him understand as he loves superheroes. I would come back from hospital with my Hickman line in – which is used to administer the chemotherapy - and the nurses would need to come round to flush it so I’d tell him that was how I got my superhero powers. When I had my hair shaved I told him my long hair was stopping me from flying. I didn’t want him to worry about Mummy being ill. I just felt he was too young so we worked with what he knew about which was superheroes.

“My daughter was old enough to full understand and I had to tell her everything and not shadow her from any of it. She decided to do the Pretty Muddy 5k obstacle course at Heaton Park to raise funds for Cancer Research UK and to support me which was good as it gave her something to focus on as well as the rest of the family and we all went along to watch her!

“In January Chris and I went to Iceland to mark the end of my treatment. We went to see the Northern Lights which were amazing and to the Blue Lagoon – a naturally heated spring. Going in the Blue Lagoon was the first time I went without my wig. I thought if I was going to do it anywhere - then that was the place!”

Annmarie also got a tattoo saying “strength” on her arm to mark the end of her treatment.

She said: “My experience means I understand all too clearly why Cancer Research UK’s work is so important. The ‘Right Now’ campaign captures the experience of so many families like mine. Cancer affects us all - not just the person diagnosed, but also their loved ones.

“Now, I appreciate time with my family and friends so much more – I don’t worry about little things that would have bothered me in the past like breaking a nail or the television breaking.

“I’m so grateful for the treatment that saved my life and that’s why I want to do everything I can to raise awareness of the power of research in beating the disease. I hope people are motivated to show their support and help save the lives of more people like me.”

One in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives, but the good news is more people are surviving the disease now than ever before. Survival has doubled in the last 40 years in the UK. But to help continue this progress, Cancer Research UK needs everyone in the North West to act right now.

Alison Barbuti, Cancer Research UK spokesperson for the North West, said: “We are so grateful to Ann-Marie for sharing her cancer story.

“There are many moments which encapsulate a person’s cancer journey and our ‘Right Now’ campaign aims to show both the realities of the disease and the positive impact research and improved treatments can have on their lives.

“Every year, around 41,700 people are diagnosed with cancer in the North West. That’s why we’re working every day to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease. But we can’t do it alone. We hope our campaign will inspire people to take action, right now, and play their part in beating cancer.”

Alison added: “There are so many ways to show your support here in Bolton. From signing up to Race for Life, donating items to one of our shops or giving time to volunteer. Every action makes a difference and money raised helps to support Cancer Research UK’s vital work.”

To help support life-saving research, visit cruk.org