A FORMER cancer sufferer is doing her bit to encourage other women to get screened for the disease before it is too late.

When Donata Fernandes, 55, came to the UK from India in 2004 to be with her husband she felt fine, even passing a medical before getting residency.

She registered with a GP and was invited to have a mammogram because she was over 50. However, further tests revealed the shocking news that she had breast cancer.

She said: "I was so shocked because when I came here I felt fit and healthy and in India cancer is considered a death sentence.

"Because I had just moved here I had no real friends so it was a very lonely time for me and I want to help other women from suffering the same.

"I believe that if I had not come to the UK when I did I might well be dead now as we have no such screening programme in India."

Fortunately for Donata she was able to have surgery in December, having been diagnosed in November and after a course of radiotherapy was given the all clear.

Donata, who is now a volunteer at Dormers Wells Community Centre, is helping Cancer Research UK promote the message that early detection saves lives to women in west London.

Part of the campaign is to get women to sign a pledge card to put pressure on politicians to promote the screening more and to go for screening when they are invited.

The mother of two said: "There is a stigma amongst some women attached to this type of screening and I want to try and get the message across that this screening really does save lives.

"I have been given at least three more years of life and I am looking forward to the birth of my third grandchild very soon.

"I am also part of an Asian women's cancer support group who helped me after I had my surgery and I want to help other women in a similar situation."

For more information on the campaign visit www.cancercampaigns.org.uk