Bec Oakes
A woman has tragically died after she delayed treatment for cancer so she could give birth to a baby boy.
Azzurra Carnelos, 33, received the devastating breast cancer diagnosis after a premonitory dream of her grandmother who'd passed away from the disease prompted her to get checked.
Following the diagnosis, she started chemotherapy and was eventually put in remission.
Then, in February of last year, the Italian was given the news she'd always dreamt of — she was pregnant.
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Unfortunately, her cancer returned just months later. While doctors advised her to start chemo again, Carnelos refused.
Certain chemotherapy drugs can be incredibly harmful to an unborn child, so she chose to delay the treatment until she'd given birth.
Her son, Antonio, was born eight months ago with Carnelos' mother Antonella calling him 'the son she'd longed for.'
Following his birth last summer, the senior financial analyst resumed her chemotherapy treatment, but it was sadly too late for the mum-of-one.
On 13 April, she passed away in her home in Oderzo, Italy. Her funeral was held yesterday (18 April) at Oderzo Cathedral.
Her family told local media: "Azzurra was strong, sweet, and kind until the end.
"She was a great mother and a great wife.
"When she had that dream, it was as if her grandmother had warned her to seek treatment immediately to later allow her to become a mother."
Carnelos' husband Francesco - who she married in February - is now dedicating his life to their infant son.
He says: "Now my job is to raise him and to preserve his mum’s memory."
While some cancer treatments can be harmful to an unborn child, you can usually undergo certain types of chemotherapy between 14 and 37 weeks into pregnancy, according to Macmillan Cancer Support.
During pregnancy, the placenta acts as a barrier between you and the baby. Some drugs cannot pass through the placenta. Others only pass through in very small amounts.
Your doctor will avoid giving certain chemotherapy drugs that could be harmful and discuss all the options to help you come to a decision that is right for you.
Common symptoms of breast cancer include a lump or swelling in your breast or armpit, a change in size, shape or feel of your breast and changes in the skin of your breast, such as dimpling.
It can also cause changes in the position of the nipple and fluid leaking from the nipple in a woman who isn't pregnant or breastfeeding.
If you experience any of these symptoms or suspect you may have breast cancer, get in touch with your GP.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.