A woman found out she was pregnant while receiving cancer treatment was forced to have chemotherapy while her baby was still growing.

Songul Yildiz, 42, from Finchley, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 after discovering a lump in her right breast.

But just days before she due to have a mastectomy, she discovered she was five weeks pregnant with her son, Bahar, who is now one-years-old.

She moved from Scotland to be closer to her sister and was referred to Guy’s and St Thomas’.

As part of her treatment, Songul had six sessions of chemotherapy which began in the 15th week of her pregnancy.

Songul will be taking part in a special fashion show on Sunday 24 June to mark Cancer Survivors’ Day.

Now in its fourth year, the annual event celebrates those who survive cancer and the teams from the hospital who have treated them.

She said: “Being told I was pregnant while being treated for breast cancer was completely devastating. But the team at Guy’s and St Thomas’ was very reassuring and told me it was possible to effectively treat my cancer during my pregnancy with chemotherapy.”

Songul’s daughter Bahar was delivered safely via a caesarean section at 38 weeks in March 2017. Three weeks after the birth, Songul had surgery to remove lymph nodes in her right underarm.

In June last year she had radiotherapy to remove the remaining cancer cells and is now in remission.

Songul added: “Holding Bahar for the first time was such a special moment. She developed meningitis soon after her birth but thankfully made a full recovery.

“I’m eternally grateful for every at Guy’s and St Thomas’ who made her birth possible. She’s my little miracle.

Describing her reasons for taking part in the show, she said: “I would never normally do something like this, but I wanted to show that cancer doesn’t have to hold you back.”

Dr Anne Rigg, Clinical Director for Oncology at Guy’s and St Thomas’, said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Songul is in remission and her daughter is healthy and doing well.”

As well as a fashion show, live music, seminars and exhibits, Cancer Survivors’ Day also includes a Celebration Walk to raise money for the Cancer Centre at Guy’s.