AN Upton woman has stressed the importance of regular mammograms after finding out she had breast cancer on her first scan.

Sheina Stockton was diagnosed in June, after having a mammogram a month before. She was not due to start having regular scans until November, when she turns 50, but said she was relieved she had been told to go for one, as it meant the cancer was caught earlier.

The tumour was about the size of a bean and undetectable outwardly, but had it not been found, it could have grown and spread.

Mrs Stockton, of Welland Road, said she was terrified when she discovered she had cancer, but urged other women not to ignore appointments for scans as they could prove life saving.

She went to a mobile clinic on the Roman Way Retail Park in Malvern for her scan and said: "They were incredibly efficient and the staff were lovely. They make it all seem so natural that you don't feel embarrassed about it.

"I was only there about 15 or 20 minutes, it's something people can go and do in their lunch hour.

"I don't know why I had the mammogram early but I'm glad I did."

Mrs Stockton had surgery at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in July to remove the tumour and will have the lymph nodes in her armpit removed today (Friday). Chemotherapy and radiotherapy will follow.

Mrs Stockton advised other cancer sufferers to stay positive and talk to their families and friends about their feelings.

"My way of dealing with it has been to talk about it. I really think it's better to be open about it," she said.

"I can see it's very easy to sink into depression and think 'this is it' but I'm absolutely sure that the more positive you can be, the better."

Last March, Mrs Stockton was saved from choking to death on a piece of apple by Ledbury firefighter Andy Phillips.

Mr Phillips performed the Heimlich manoeuvre after the lodged food stopped her breathing.

Because of her present treatment, Mrs Stockton has given up her job as a self-employed speech and language therapist and has resigned as chairman of Upton's Hill Centre, a position she has held for 14 years.

A meeting will be held at the centre at 8pm on Wednesday, September 29, to discuss appointing a new chairman. Anyone interested should attend.