A 34-YEAR-OLD mum of five has told of her wish to get married after being diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. 

Ellen Wickens, from Burgess Hill, was diagnosed in February after doctors found tumours in her breasts as well as in her lymph nodes.

She and her long term partner, Will, had always planned on getting married but following the diagnosis they felt even more urgency.

The Argus: Will and EllenWill and Ellen

Ellen’s mother, Louise Smith said her daughter has concerns about hair loss but is hoping to get a realistic wig for the big day. 

Louise said: “She’s terrified, it’s such a horrible thing for a young mum to go through. 

“She’s starting chemo today, and I’ve been there, I had what she has, and I just hope she can handle it.

“We wanted to plan the wedding to take her mind off everything.”

Initially, there were fears that the cancer had also spread to Ellen's liver.

However, the mother-of-five recently found out that the lumps on her liver were benign, and she began her chemotherapy yesterday. 

Louise told The Argus how difficult it has been explaining Ellen’s illness to her children Ellie, 17, Donnamarie, 11, Aaron, 10, Romeo, 6, and Delilah, 4.

She said: “The two little ones don’t really understand, Romeo knows that mummy has a green bug and he asks her ‘are you going to lose your hair?’ and she tells him ‘you know, Mummy’s hair might fall out because of the special medicine but it will grow back.”

The Argus: Ellen's children: Back to front: Ellie, Donna-Marie, Aaron, Romeo and DelilhaEllen's children: Back to front: Ellie, Donna-Marie, Aaron, Romeo and Delilha

Ellen and Will have booked their wedding for June 24 and a Gofundme page has been set up to help raise money.

Since the page went live the family has received generous donations, such as large discounts on catering and even a wedding dress. 

The Argus: Ellen and her eldest daughter EllieEllen and her eldest daughter Ellie

Ellen’s chemotherapy is expected to get more aggressive as the weeks go on, but her doctors have said that she can stop treatment the week before so she feels up to it. 

Any further donations to the Gofundme page will be spent on various aspects of the big day such as a DJ and the venue.

Anyone looking to donate to Ellen’s fundraiser can do so here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ellens-wish-is-to-get-married