29-year-old Ashleigh faces terminal cancer diagnosis

Ashleigh Ellerton, a 29-year-old mother from Bridlington, Yorkshire, has been given just three months to live due to advanced breast cancer. Initially, she was dismissed by her doctor at age 24, who said she was "too young" for the disease, as there was no family history. After persistent efforts, Ashleigh secured a referral to a breast clinic where tests revealed she had inflammatory breast cancer in March 2020. This rare and aggressive form of cancer often does not present with a lump and carries a high mortality rate. Following her diagnosis, she underwent extensive treatment, including chemotherapy and a mastectomy. In December 2020, Ashleigh was declared cancer-free and soon after married her partner, Simon. However, her health took a turn. In 2022, doctors discovered secondary cancer in her liver during gallbladder surgery caused by an infection. Ashleigh was told this late-stage disease could lead to a maximum of three years to live. Despite this grim prognosis, she remained hopeful that she could live longer. Unfortunately, her condition worsened, and cancer spread to her brain, causing severe complications. With all treatment options exhausted, she has been advised to put her affairs in order. Now, Ashleigh focuses on creating lasting memories for her four children. She is making memory boxes filled with personal items and has launched a fundraiser for final family trips. Ashleigh hopes her story and donated samples may assist future cancer research, aiming to prevent similar fates for other families.