PAT Desborough is living proof cancer can be beaten. The 54-year-old discovered a lump in her left breast on Christmas Eve in 1999. She went to a doctor that day.

Her doctor told her it was probably nothing to worry about but suggested a referral to a specialist, which would take about four to six weeks.

"Fortunately I was able to arrange an appointment as a private patient and I saw a breast cancer specialist between Christmas and the new year," she said.

It was lucky for her she did.

After various tests, including a needle biopsy, her consultant at the Chiltern Hospital confirmed she had breast cancer.

What followed was traumatic.

She had to tell her children, who had already lost their father whilst in their teens, that they might lose their mother too.

She later had her left breast removed together with seven lymph nodes.

It was followed by a painful course of radiotherapy and a five-year course of the drug Tamoxifen.

The side effects of the drug were not pleasant. She had hot flushes and night sweats, although her hair did not fall out.

On her most recent visit to her consultant she was given the glorious news, "don't take this the wrong way but I don't want to see you again."

Last week Pat from Naphill posed with a bouquet of 16 roses 16 is the number of people who will be told they have breast cancer every day in the south east of England alone.

She said: "It is incredible to think that each rose in this bouquet represents a woman in the south east who will be given the devastating news she has breast cancer.

"I am living proof that treatments for the disease can be successful, but sadly not everyone currently is as fortunate.

"Much more still needs to be done before breast cancer is conquered.

"I hope, that by telling my story, more women will self-examine and go to their doctor quickly when they find something different. It can save lives.

"I also hope my story will inspire people to fundraise so that further therapies and drugs can be developed to help more women.

"I am holding a 'Think Pink' dinner party for friends and family. Every bit of support genuinely makes a difference."

Now she is fronting October's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign.

Breast cancer is not something that just affects women.

Although 40,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, 300 men will also be diagnosed.

The good news is that death rates have fallen by 20 per cent largely due to screening programmes and advances in treatments.

Cancer research spends more than £20million each year on research into breast cancer and is funded almost entirely by public donation and support.