A BOOK-KEEPER who lost both of her breasts to cancer says the best way to tackle the disease is with laughter.

Nicky Taylor, from Wantage, was told she had breast cancer in October 2014 after first being diagnosed at a young age.

The 52-year-old chose to have a double mastectomy in March 2015 and pledged to fight cancer "head on" from the outset.

She said: "I had very drastic surgery to remove both my breasts but anyone diagnosed with cancer has to face it head on, it's the only way to handle it,

"I found myself laughing and joking my way through cancer because the best way to fight it is with a sense of humour.

"And now that I've had reconstruction, I've got a fantastic pair of breasts."

The reconstruction involved taking skin from her stomach to create new breasts and Ms Taylor said she decided to use her experience with cancer to help others on the same journey.

She said: "I went along to the Breast Reconstruction Awareness Group (BRA) at Maggie's Oxford, which is for women who have previously undergone or are waiting for reconstruction.

"I had absolutely no problem with getting my breasts out for the women in the group to look and feel at because it showed them the reality of cancer.

"It also gave us a chance to have a laugh with it too and have a giggle, which is important."

Ms Taylor, who is self-employed, said her relationship with Maggie's had simply started with a cup of tea but carried on throughout her journey with the disease.

She said: "I've done a variety of things with Maggie's, including makeup sessions, which gave us more confidence and helped boost our self-esteem.

"But I was also part of the Where Now session for people who have gone into remission and they were absolutely fantastic.

"One thing Maggie's really helped you with was handling the feeling that you're a burden to people because the people at the centre are always there to talk to.

"So they helped me handle all aspects of my life, including relationships."

Ms Taylor said that her battle with cancer has made her a more resilient person.

She said: "It's strange because when you're given the all clear from cancer you just want to get back to normal, except its a different normal than before.

"Cancer had changed me and it's made me a much more patient person than I was before."

To find out more about Maggie's services visit: maggiescentres.org/our-centres/maggies-oxford/