Young cancer mum's battle for mastectomy

A mother from Hertfordshire is trying to raise the money to have a second mastectomy after she says the NHS refused to pay for the operation.

Polly Simpson from Baldock had one breast removed after developing cancer in 2012. She has two young children and says that only a second operation will put her mind at rest, and help her to move on.

Polly Simpson was diagnosed with the disease while she was pregnant. She had the breast removed and chemotherapy, and gave birth to Alfie - a healthy baby boy who is now 16 months old.

Polly had the first operation in Bedfordshire, where she lived at the time. She believes that having her other breast removed could reduce the risk of her getting breast cancer again, but says that the NHS in Bedfordshire and in Hertfordshire, where she lives now, have refused to pay for the operation.

The NHS fund what they call 'risk-reducing mastectomies' for women with a family history of the disease, or who have tested positive for certain risk-increasing genes. Polly tested negative, although she says there is a history of breast cancer in her family. She also feels that having had breast cancer once should make her eligible for the operation.

Recent research published in America found that having a double mastectomy, rather than removing the cancer and then having radiotherapy, will not necessarily increase the chances of survival. The findings came from a study of 190,000 women with the disease.

One cancer specialist with Breast Cancer Care says patients should carefully consider the options.

With the help of friends Polly has begun a campaign, Lolly for Polly , to try to raise £10,000 to pay for the operation. So far people have donated more than £2000 and at an "Old Skool Disco" event in November they hope to raise another £3000.