I was diagnosed with breast cancer a WEEK before my big day but I kept it a secret because I didn’t want pity

A WOMAN who was diagnosed with breast cancer just one week before she was due to walk down the aisle has revealed how she decided to go ahead with the ceremony and keep her news a secret.

Charlotte Drake, from Oxfordshire, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer at the age of 30, despite doctors initially claiming the lump she found was a fatty cyst.

After initially having doubts about going through with the wedding, the now 34-year-old brand manager along with her fiancé Luke Drake, decided to go ahead with the day they'd been planning for years.

"I was 30, had no family history, I didn’t smoke, rarely drank and I was really healthy," explained Charlotte.

"Moments before I went into hospital for my results, I was agonising over which colour dress to buy online for my honeymoon.

"An hour later I was told I had cancer. It put everything into perspective and I couldn't believe I had been worrying about a dress. "

"I was convinced my life was over and told Luke I didn't think we should get married," Charlotte continued.

"I thought I'd ruined his life and didn't want to become his wife, only for me to die.

"I felt like I was taking away his wedding day. But he was amazing and told me we were going ahead with it no matter what.

"In the days leading up to our big day, instead of sorting the last-minute details I was looking into where to have treatment.

"I'd been planning my wedding since I was a little girl. I had been so excited for the day to arrive, so I could finally slip into my dress and exchange vows with Luke. But now my life was on the line.

“I remember thinking at least if I die everyone will have seen me at my wedding looking the best I was ever going to look. At least I would be going out with a bang.”

On the days leading up to the wedding, Charlotte was rushed to hospital by her mum, Elizabeth Johnson - who also knew of her diagnosis - after having a panic attack.

While at the hospital, the bride-to-be was booked in for surgery, explaining "having a plan" made her feel better.

"Luckily for me, a breast cancer surgeon was at hospital that day," she said.

"He booked me in for surgery three days after the wedding and knowing I had a plan of action made me feel better.

"Luke and I didn't tell our guests because we wanted it to be a happy occasion. We didn't want their pity, it was a wedding not a funeral after all.

"I found the morning of the wedding tough. It was the day I'd been dreaming of for years - and I had cancer.

"But I managed to shake off my sadness and told myself the day wasn't just for me, it was for Luke and my family too. I had to suck it up and get on with it.

"For the rest of the day, the only thing that was hard was that people kept hugging me, which really hurt because I had just had a biopsy."