"I DON’T think I’ll ever come to terms with not being able to have kids of my own” – those are the words of a 32-year-old woman whose life was changed forever by cancer,

Kate Stallard, from Malvern, told the Worcester News about the toll that surviving leukaemia has taken on her, after her near death experience.

“Before my divorce, I had my whole life planned out," Kate said. "I was newly married, had a good job, I went on nice holidays, I was even thinking of starting a family. Then everything fell apart.

“I’m still in a grieving process. I don’t think I’ll ever come to terms with not being able to have kids of my own.”

In 2016, Kate was 48 hours from death when she was rushed to Worcestershire Royal Hospital. It was revealed that she had acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL), a rare type of blood cancer. She had to go through volatile treatment to survive, with lasting consequences.

“The long-term side effects of cancer treatment are never discussed," Kate said. "The fertility issue for instance, it is almost seen as taboo to talk about.

“I was nervous bringing up the topic and being honest about my feelings, I just felt that I needed to get it out there and help individuals who have gone through my pain.”

Kate suggests that there is a lack of psychological support available despite such help being a vital part of recovery.

“There is a lot of things you don’t want to tell your loved ones, because you don’t want to upset them. You can have some scary thoughts when you go through something this traumatic, so being able to talk to someone impartial and trained is just invaluable,” she explained.

Kate is starting a counselling course in September at Redditch College, with the goal to help others who have gone through the same experience as her.

“I want to be able to help others,” she added. “I will eternally be grateful towards the Worcestershire Royal Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for keeping me alive and continuing to care for me."