A WEYMOUTH mum of three who survived breast cancer says she’s lucky to be alive.

Sara Jenkins, 46, from Wyke Regis, believes good advice from a friend she lost to the same cancer helped her to live.

After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009, Sara had to decide whether to have a mastectomy or surgery to remove just the lump.

She went for the first option following advice from her friend, Suzy, who was also fighting breast cancer.

Sara said “Suzy had opted for a lumpectomy and, unfortunately, her cancer spread and she sadly died last year. Suzy was adamant I should ‘have my breast off’ and I took her advice.

“I was even more sure it was the right thing to do after meeting up with a friend of a friend who had received incredible reconstruction surgery.

“I just feel so lucky to have beaten cancer when I know from experience that many people don’t, like my dear friend Suzy who was the same age as me.

“I was fortunate to get good advice from some very special people and need to tell my story and hopefully help others who may be going through something similar.”

Sara now wants others to support Cancer Research UK and Channel 4 with its Stand Up To Cancer campaign.

The campaign will culminate in a live TV fundraiser on Channel 4 at 7pm tonight, hosted by Davina McCall, Alan Carr and Dr Christian Jessen. Stand Up To Cancer took place for the first time in the UK in 2012 and raised over £8million.

Sara added: “We should all ‘Stand Up To Cancer’ as it affects almost everyone in some way. There is no way I couldn’t support the campaign and would urge as many people as possible to get involved.”

Helen Johnstone, Cancer Research UK spokesman for Dorset, said: “One in three people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives.

“Thanks to the incredible progress that’s been made in the last 40 years, more people are surviving than ever before. But we can’t afford to stand still.

“We have the technology and the knowledge to conquer cancer; we just need the funds to turn it into real-life treatments.”