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| Unborn twins 'kicked out cancer' | Unborn twins 'kicked out cancer' |
| (1 day later) | |
| A mother who found she had a tumour while pregnant was saved by her unborn twins' kicking, doctors have said. | A mother who found she had a tumour while pregnant was saved by her unborn twins' kicking, doctors have said. |
| Michelle Stepney developed a tumour but was only diagnosed with cervical cancer when she was taken to hospital with a suspected miscarriage. | Michelle Stepney developed a tumour but was only diagnosed with cervical cancer when she was taken to hospital with a suspected miscarriage. |
| But doctors found her twins' kicking had dislodged the tumour. | But doctors found her twins' kicking had dislodged the tumour. |
| Mrs Stepney, from Cheam, south-west London, refused to undergo chemotherapy and a hysterectomy which would have meant the termination of her twins. | Mrs Stepney, from Cheam, south-west London, refused to undergo chemotherapy and a hysterectomy which would have meant the termination of her twins. |
| She has been nominated for a Woman of Courage Award by Cancer Research UK. | She has been nominated for a Woman of Courage Award by Cancer Research UK. |
| "I couldn't believe it when the doctors told me that the babies had dislodged the tumour," she said. | "I couldn't believe it when the doctors told me that the babies had dislodged the tumour," she said. |
| I owe my life to my girls, and that's why I could have never agreed with a termination Michelle Stepney | I owe my life to my girls, and that's why I could have never agreed with a termination Michelle Stepney |
| "I'd felt them kicking but I didn't realise just how important their kicking would turn out to be." | "I'd felt them kicking but I didn't realise just how important their kicking would turn out to be." |
| Mrs Stepney, who also had a five-year-old son called Jack, said she opted to have her life-saving operation after the twins were born. | Mrs Stepney, who also had a five-year-old son called Jack, said she opted to have her life-saving operation after the twins were born. |
| "I owe my life to my girls, and that's why I could have never agreed with a termination," she said. | "I owe my life to my girls, and that's why I could have never agreed with a termination," she said. |
| "It was a very difficult decision to make. We wanted to make sure what we did was right by Jack but we did not want to do what was wrong by the girls." | "It was a very difficult decision to make. We wanted to make sure what we did was right by Jack but we did not want to do what was wrong by the girls." |
| 'Kept me strong' | 'Kept me strong' |
| Doctors at the Royal Marsden Hospital gave Mrs Stepney limited chemotherapy. | Doctors at the Royal Marsden Hospital gave Mrs Stepney limited chemotherapy. |
| The twins, Alice and Harriet, were delivered by caesarean section 33 weeks into the pregnancy. | The twins, Alice and Harriet, were delivered by caesarean section 33 weeks into the pregnancy. |
| They were healthy but born without hair because of the cancer treatment. | They were healthy but born without hair because of the cancer treatment. |
| Mrs Stepney had a hysterectomy four weeks later, and has been given the all-clear. | Mrs Stepney had a hysterectomy four weeks later, and has been given the all-clear. |
| She said she had relied on the support of her husband Scott, 36. | She said she had relied on the support of her husband Scott, 36. |
| "I couldn't have got through it without him," she said, adding: "The twins were also a huge support. They kept me strong throughout it all." | "I couldn't have got through it without him," she said, adding: "The twins were also a huge support. They kept me strong throughout it all." |