Mother discovered she had 12-inch tumour after becoming breathless while reading to her son

Unexpected diagnosis: Nicole Feldman with her husband David and children Zac and Sophia
Southern News & Pictures (SNAP)

A mother discovered she had cancer after becoming breathless while reading her son a bedtime story.

Nicole Feldman, 39, of Finchley, north-west London, went to see her doctor last year after she had been unable to read a book.

Seeking help within hours may have been life saving as an X-ray revealed a 12-inch tumour blocking her windpipe.

A long series of tests found Ms Feldman, who is mother to Zac, five, and Sophia, seven, had treatable stage four Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She began chemotherapy and is now in remission.

She has warned Londoners to visit their GP on finding any unusual physical change.

Ms Feldman had developed a cough a few weeks prior, but assumed her run-down symptoms were a result of moving into a dusty new house in the middle of winter.

She said: “I just thought it was that. But then, one night I was reading a bedtime book to Zac and got so breathless I couldn’t even finish the story. I’m not an ill person ... I’d had a bit of a cough but at worst I thought it was a chest infection. Never did I dream it would be cancer.

“It’s not a waste of time to go to your GP — my GP helped save my life and I am forever grateful ... Go to your doctor and get anything unusual checked out.”

Ms Feldman was supported through her treatment by husband David, a creative director in advertising, and said her children “adapted amazingly well”. On Saturday she will be a guest of honour at Cancer Research UK’s Pretty Muddy event at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, ringing the bell to kick off the races.

Organiser Dearbhla Cormacain said: “We’re enormously grateful to Nicole for her support. By following her lead people can make a real difference in the fight against cancer.”

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