AN INSPIRATIONAL young mum who is having her breasts and ovaries removed has spoken out about her fears for herself and her children.

Heidi Kilgariff, 35, discovered she was a carrier of the BRCA 1 gene two years ago and since then her world has been turned upside down, with tests revealing she has an 85% chance of getting breast cancer and the 60% probability that she may develop ovarian cancer.

But, as the News reported in November, the brave Crown Wood resident has opted to have a double mastectomy and her ovaries removed to reduce the risk of her getting cancer. And the time before she goes on the operating table is looming, with the operations due to take place at short notice sometime before March.

She said: "I don't think anything's been normal since finding out about it; for nearly three years it has been taking up our everyday lives and we've all been feeling a bit low."

To read Heidi's full interview, pick up a copy of this week's Bracknell News.