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A mother-of-three diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer while pregnant with her third child is desperately fundraising £250,000 to afford lifesaving treatment in the US to give her more precious time with her children. 

Nicola Biddiscombe, 34, from Kent, gave birth to her third child this June after enduring months of chemotherapy whilst carrying her.

But after daughter Jasmine's safe arrival Nicola faced yet more bad news when she discovered that the stage 4 metastatic breast cancer had spread to her lungs, bones, skin and liver. She is also awaiting tests to see whether the disease has progressed to her spine. 

With the cancer moving so fast and failing to react well to treatment, Nicola and her partner Todd Miller, 36, have embarked on a mission to raise money to fly her to the America for treatment. Trodelvy is not available in the UK on the NHS, but the family believe it caters specifically to the type of cancer Nicola has.

Nicola Biddiscombe, 34, from Kent, gave birth to her third child this June after enduring months of chemotherapy whilst carrying her (pictured with her partner Todd Miller)

The family's lives were first turned upside down in May this year when Nicola, then eight months pregnant, went to see the doctor about a lump in her left breast.

She had discovered the lump a few months earlier in April but because she was pregnant had assumed it was mastitis and wasn't overly worried.

However her GP told her it definitely wasn't mastitis and referred her to Darent Valley Hospital for scans and a biopsy.

At that point the family already had daughter Delilah, then five, and son Rudi, two - and when she received the initial diagnosis for stage 3 triple negative breast cancer it was her children that kept her going.

The family's lives were first turned upside down in May this year when Nicola, then eight months pregnant, went to see the doctor about a lump in her left breast

Nicola already had daughter Delilah, then five, and son Rudi, two (pictured together) - and when she received the initial diagnosis for stage 3 triple negative breast cancer it was her children that kept her going

Despite her initial diagnosis, investigations into the extent of her illness had to be delayed until the baby had been safely delivered. Nicola and Todd were surprised however when doctors said she could start having chemotherapy while pregnant.

'Despite our concerns doctors reassured us chemo was safe for the baby,' Todd told FEMAIL.

'When Nicola's hair started to thin and fall out, she enlisted the help of Delilah to cut it "short for summer".'

Delilah, who was unaware that her mum was fighting cancer, was delighted to get involved and somehow Nicola held it together as little Delilah chopped away at her beautiful long brown hair.

It was a lot to take on board for any family, but this one had already had its fair share of trauma. They were still trying to piece their lives back together after Todd was involved in a serious motorbike accident just weeks earlier.

Nicola and her partner Todd Miller, 36, have embarked on a mission to raise money to fly her to the America for treatment (pictured before her diagnosis)

It was a lot to take on board for any family, but this one had already had its fair share of trauma. They were still trying to piece their lives back together after Todd was involved in a serious motorbike accident just weeks earlier

It had left him with a shattered pelvis and unable to walk for a minimum of 12 weeks. Being a self-employed plasterer, this sudden loss of income was already having a huge impact on their finances as they drained their savings to survive.

Inspired by Nicola's bravery and courage, Todd said he had no choice but to do the same, and soon he was back up and walking on a Zimmer frame before progressing to crutches.

'Nic's strength was unfaltering, she remained optimistic and full of hope,' he said. 

When Jasmine arrived safely in July this year, the moment was bittersweet because it was followed by yet more bad news.

'When we were told the cancer was stage 4 metastatic breast cancer which had spread to her lungs, bones, skin and liver it just didn't seem real,' Todd recalled. 'Nic was so incredibly strong through it all.'

The drug Nicola and Todd (pictured together before her diagnosis) are fundraising for, Trodelvy, is not available in the UK on the NHS, but the family believe it caters specifically to the type of cancer Nicola has

Sadly Nicola was unable to breastfeed Jasmine because of the chemotherapy and that broke her heart because she had breastfed her other two children (pictured together as a family last Christmas)

It's now been explained to Nicola (pictured with Delilah and Rudi) that if this next round of chemotherapy does not begin to slow the spread, then her prognosis will be approximately 12 months, which is why they're appealing for help

'I've got to carry on for the other children,' she added. 'And the baby.'

Sadly Nicola was unable to breastfeed Jasmine because of the chemotherapy and that broke her heart because she had breastfed her other two children. But she was buoyed along by the kindness of strangers who donated their breast milk to Hearts Milk Bank to feed Jasmine.

Meanwhile, as it became apparent that the chemo wasn't working well for Nicola, the family took matters into their own hands.

'Nicola started eating an alkaline diet because we had read that it was good to fight cancer,' Todd explained. 

'We also began researching other treatments that the NHS didn't offer. We discovered that there's a treatment available in the USA called Trodelvy, which is designed specifically for the type of cancer Nic has.'

It's now been explained to Nicola that if this next round of chemotherapy does not begin to slow the spread, then her prognosis will be approximately 12 months, which is why they're appealing for help.

'We're desperate to have more time together,' Todd stressed. 'More precious time for Nicola to see the children grow up.

'We need to raise £250,000 to get Nic over to America and fund a year of the treatment. Normally we are too proud to ask for help - after my accident we managed with our savings - but now there's no way we can come up with that sort of money, especially with me having not worked since the accident and Nicola unable to work as a carer because of her illness. 

'The cancer was spreading aggressively fast and we simply cannot begin to imagine a world without Nic in it.'

Jasmine is just six weeks old now and the family are sharing their story to try to raise the money before it's too late.

'We want to make memories of a lifetime and to give Nic more time with her precious babies,' Todd said.

Jasmine is just six weeks old now and the family are sharing their story to try to raise the money before it's too late

'Jasmine is too young to be without her mum. They all are. And I can't imagine life without Nic. Please help us if you can.'

Nicola added: 'I just want to thank the amazing care I have received from the NHS, the wonderful ladies that have donated breast milk and of course our incredible friends and family for supporting us.

'I also want to thank everyone that has donated to our fundraising. Out of a tragic situation so much love and kindness has been generated. It truly is amazing. We are so grateful. I hope my story urges other women to get checked and raises awareness of breast cancer.'

To donate to the family's cause click here. For more information visit https://action.breastcancernow.org/its-time-trodelvy