THREE years ago, Judith Phillips received news that left her shocked and devastated.
Doctors confirmed the lump she had found on her breast was cancerous. That day was also her son Geraint's seventh birthday. And, after being left reeling by what she had just found out, Judith had to carry on for her son and host his birthday party.
She had just set up her own hairdressing business in Cwmbran and knew she faced invasive surgery and months of gruelling radiotherapy that would test her physically, mentally and financially.
Last Friday, exactly three years on, Geraint celebrated his 10th birthday in much happier circumstances.
Judith, aged 43, of Western Valley Road, Rogerstone, received the all-clear at her yearly check-up this week and hosted a coffee morning to raise money for the Macmillan Cancer charity at her thriving salon.
Judith said: "This time of year is horrible. I get really stressed out when it's time for a check-up because I'm scared it could come back.
"When I was first diagnosed it was a complete shock and I thought I was going to struggle to stay in business.
"We are doing really well now but it is never far from my mind."
Judith wanted to raise money for Macmillan as a way of giving something back to the charity, which gave her £200 to buy comfortable clothes when she was recovering from breast surgery.
She was off work for six months after having the lump and surrounding lymph nodes removed, and undergoing painful radiotherapy.
"The treatment gave really severe burns and made me very tired. I would actually bleed because I was so raw.
"But I gradually came back to work with the support of my family, colleagues and clients."
The coffee morning was a huge success, with staff, clients and visitors all popping in and helping to raise money for the charity.
Judith also wore pink - the colour for Breast Cancer Awareness month, which started on Saturday.
The Macmillan "biggest coffee morning in the world" event was held all over the UK.
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