When Suzanne Evans received the devastating news she had an aggressive form of breast cancer she feared the worst for herself and for the future of her daughters.

But the mum-of-four received love and support from an unexpected source - her ex-husband’s new wife Paula.

Paula stepped up and held Suzanne's hand through her weekly chemotherapy sessions and promised to always be there for her girls.

The two women had been on cordial terms with each other beforehand - always chatting at family birthdays or christenings.

Paula married hubby Chris, 55, in September 2013 after they had been dating for 18 months.

Chris had previously split from Suzanne in 2010 after 14 years of marriage.

But when Suzanne, 51, was diagnosed with breast cancer in August last year a special friendship blossomed between the two women.

The mum received love from an unexpected source (
Image:
Wayne Perry)

They have now agreed to share their story as the faces of M&S and Breast Cancer Now’s fundraising campaign for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

This October M&S will donate 25% from selected sleepwear products to Breast Cancer Now helping fund ground-breaking breast cancer research.

Suzanne said: “When I split from Chris we stayed on good terms for the children, that was the most important thing.

"Divorce is always traumatic, it’s not an easy decision, but it was the right one. But we stayed friends.”

Suzanne has four daughters, Rebecca, 26, Lauren 23, Megan, 22, and 13-year-old Hannah.

She said: “I was diagnosed with cancer in August last year, a month after my 50th birthday.

"Around February time I had a feeling something was wrong, I had a strong feeling something was not right.

“After my 50th in July I felt something, a lump. I’m kicking myself now, I wish I’d acted earlier, but I just thought ‘it can’t happen to me’.

"But in August I felt the lump and I panicked. I was at the doctors the next morning at 8.30.”

Suzanne was diagnosed in August last year (
Image:
wayne Perry)

Suzanne was referred to the Mermaid breast cancer clinic at the Royal Cornwall Hospital.

“I got an appointment incredibly quickly. When I saw the doctor I said ‘it’s probably just a cyst’, but I could tell from the look on his face.

"They deal with this day in, day out, they know what they’re looking for.

“It felt so surreal, horrendous. You think ‘I’ve got cancer, i’m going to die’. It’s like a grieving process for yourself.”

Suzanne had a mammogram, ultrasound treatment and a biopsy - and 10 days later received the terrible confirmation it was cancer.

She said: “I went to see the consultant and he said they’d found cancerous cells. It was horrific, I went cold from head to toe.

“They kept saying it was very treatable, but I was just thinking ‘that’s it’. Then I thought ‘am I going to lose my hair’. There are so many emotions all at once.

“It was torture, the mental side is so difficult. How do I tell the children? My youngest Hannah was only 13 and she’d see me crying at home. It was fear of the unknown.”

Suzanne had to have chemotherapy treatment

Suzanne started her chemotherapy on October 4 last year with daughter Lauren, 23, taking her to her first couple of treatments.

But then she received a surprise call - from her ex-husband’s new wife Paula.

She said: “Until then it had been very hard, I felt alone. I needed reassurance that my girls would be ok.

“When Paula heard about the chemo sessions she insisted on taking me. I’d already had a couple and she called me and said she was available to drive me there.

"She told me she and Chris were devastated when they heard about the diagnosis.”

The first time Paula took Suzanne to her chemotherapy she sat holding her hand and the two women had an emotional heart-to-heart.

Suzanne pictured just before her surgery

Suzanne said: “We’d always had a cordial, friendly relationship, mostly greeting each other at family events. But this was different.

“She said to me the girls were going to be fine and I was going to be fine. She told me ‘I will never replace you, you are their mum, but I will love them and look after them like they are my own’.

“It was just what I needed to hear, she’s just a lovely, lovely person.”

From there on Suzanne and Paula became close pals.

Suzanne, a dog groomer, said: “While I was receiving treatment Paula would come over and see me.

"She would bundle me in the car and take me to their house. Or, if I was feeling too ill, she would bring her laptop and work from mine, even if I just spent the day sleeping.

“She would make sure I had the shopping in, cook meals. The girls would be there, the grandchildren, the family all together.

“It felt like I wasn’t having to deal with it on my own. I love her to bits, she’s amazing.

“It may have seemed a bit odd for Chris, but he’s always been very supportive. He’s a fantastic dad and even though we’re divorced I still care for him.

“If it had been the other way round I would have been devastated for him. In a strange way I think our friendship helped him deal with it as well.”

The trio all get on very well (
Image:
Wayne Perry)

Suzanne’s treatment ended on Valentine’s Day this year - and the whole family, including Chris and Paula, visited the hospital to see her ring the bell as she left the unit.

She has since undergone an operation to remove the lump and has been told she is now cancer free.

“I’m still coming to terms with life afterwards, it’s been mentally exhausting. I’ll still need annual checks, but I’m just so thankful that i’m healthy and I now have such a wonderful friend.”

Technical administrator Paula, 49, said: “We’d always got on, at birthdays or christenings, family events. But when we got the phone call telling us Suzanne had cancer I was in tears.

“There’s only 17 months between us and I knew I wanted to help. I didn’t want to be one of those people who crosses the street.

“We spoke on the phone and I went round. I told her that I wanted to take her.

“I’d never been in a ward before where people were having chemo. It was a real shock seeing what she was going through. All these people linked up to drips.

“It was a humbling, eye opening experience. We spoke while she was having her treatment. I told her she’d be OK, but if the worst happened I’d be there for the girls. Afterwards I dropped her off and then I cried all the way home.”

Suzanne Evans of Truro in Cornwall who has recovered from breast cancer

Paula told how they grew closer as Suzanne’s treatment continued.

“I would take her to hospital, spend time at her house, or wrap her up and bring her to ours.

“The girls would come round and she would fall asleep on our sofa, surrounded by everyone.

“I think these moments with the family were precious to her. They meant a lot to all of us.”

Chris, 55, an upholsterer, said: “It was a little bit weird when the girls started seeing so much of each other. Some guys may not be like this, but I still care for Suzanne, she’s the mother of my children.

“I’m glad they get on so well, it’s brilliant, it’s the way it should be.”

Of the campaign Suzanne says. “It’s given me so much confidence in myself. I’m hoping to raise awareness of breast cancer for as many people as possible, and turn this experience into a positive one.”

To find out how you can support the M&S and Breast Cancer Now partnership, visit:  www.marksandspencer.com/breastcancernow