A MUM says her “superstar” daughter saved her life and that of her unborn baby.

Lorraine Macgregor was six months pregnant with her second child when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

The diagnosis was only made after daughter Chelsea Ann, then just eight years old, spotted a lump in her mum’s breast and she decided to go to the GP.

Lorraine, 39, and her partner Darren, 36, were then given the devastating news she had breast cancer.

The cancer was made worse by the hormone oestrogen, which increases in women’s bodies during pregnancy, so doctors wanted the baby induced within days so they could begin treatment.

Lorraine was told she’d need to have the lump removed followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

But at just 26 weeks pregnant, there were doubts whether the baby, conceived after IVF treatment, would survive.

“Being pregnant meant it was feeding the tumour a lot faster. As much as I loved my bump I had a child walking around and I knew I had to do what was right by my child,” she said.

But a compromise was found, Lorraine had a lumpectomy while still pregnant, with as little anaesthetic as possible to avoid harming the unborn baby.

She was told the cancer had spread to six of her lymph nodes, but doctors waited six more weeks before she was induced.

Lorraine, from Ashingdon, said: “It was a horrendous time. Chelsea Ann felt so guilty because she found the lump “She thought if she hadn’t found it, it would have gone away. It’s difficult to explain to a child, but, really, she saved my life.”

Baby Teigan was born by Caesarean section six weeks early and weighed just 4lbs 13oz. She spent two weeks in the special care baby unit at Southend Hospital before going home. Immediately Lorraine started six months of chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy.

She said: “It was the worst time of my life. But Chelsea Ann was an absolute superstar.

She, my partner, my sister and whole family really got me through it.

“It was a real struggle I had a newborn baby, had had a big operation and had chemo, but having Teigan and Chelsea Ann helped keep my mind off it.”

Two years on, Lorraine is in remission and taking anti- oestrogen Tamoxifen.

Inspired to help others in her situation, Lorraine and a group of mums who have children at Ashingdon Primary School, are organising a Boogie for your Bosoms party at Cupids Country Club in Great Wakering.

Five mums at the school, including Lorraine, have been diagnosed with breast cancer in the past two years.

One mum lost her battle with the disease.

The event will raise money for Southend Hospital’s Bosom Pals appeal for two digital mammography machines and improvements to the breast unit.

Tickets are £15 and dress code is pink. For tickets contact Sophie Benson 07816 530582.