When Penny Smith and her fiance Chris get married this weekend they will put the torment of the past two years behind them. KATE THOMPSON finds out more. . .

THROUGHOUT the dark days of her treatment for breast cancer, the thought of her wedding has helped to keep Penny Smith focused on her future.

When she finally ties the knot on Saturday, the Totton hairdresser believes she will be drawing a line under the illness that has overshadowed her life for the past two years.

Penny was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 23 - there's only a one in 15,000 chance of developing breast cancer before the age of 25.

She has gone through months of chemo and radiotherapy following the discovery of a lump in her breast - and having her wedding to look forward to has helped her remain positive.

Penny, 25, said: "It has definitely helped having the wedding to look forward to.

"There have been scary times when I have thought 'what if I don't make it to the date?' but mostly I have been able to stay positive," she said.

Planning the wedding and choosing her dream dress have all helped to take her mind off the illness and the unpleasant side effects of the treatment.

Penny's crowning glory is her beautiful blonde hair and from the outset she tried everything to keep her lovely locks.

But the treatment took its toll and Penny admits she resembled Friar Tuck after her hair fell out in handfuls.

"The hardest part was when my hair started falling out. If I had been able to keep my hair I would have felt more normal and able to carry on as if nothing was happening.

"But the moment people see you are losing your hair they know you are not well. It was obvious to everyone I was ill - and it made me feel more ill.

"I lost all the underneath hair and ended up with just a ring on top.

"I didn't like wearing a wig - I looked like Friar Tuck but I decided to brave it.

"People used to stare and point at me in the supermarket but I just got on with it," she said.

Last April when Penny chose the dress to match the special occasion, she bravely stood in front of the mirror with very little hair and dreamt how she would look on her big day.

"I found my dream dress - and when I tried it on that was when I really felt 'Oh my goodness, I really am getting married.'

"When I first tried it on I didn't have any hair so I didn't look so nice - but when I tried it on again last Wednesday it looked so much better," she said.

Penny's hair is now past her shoulders and she plans to wear it piled high on her wedding day.

Mum Elaine, 49, of St Martin's Close, Lordshill has been a constant source of support for Penny throughout her illness. When she went with her to choose the wedding dress, she managed to keep a dry eye but when she saw her in the dress just days ago, she admitted there was a lump in her throat.

"She looked so beautiful. Throughout all of this she has been so strong - and it is wonderful to think the wedding is finally going to be happening in a matter of days," said Elaine.

There was no history of breast cancer in Penny's family - medical experts say the growth was prompted by the production of too much oestrogen in her body.

The lump in her breast that she hoped was a cyst - but secretly knew would be cancerous - was removed. But when more cancer cells were found in her lymph glands, she had to undergo a rigorous course of chemo and radiotherapy.

"When I first found out I was petrified - I thought I was going to die. I thought that everyone who has cancer dies. It is rare for someone my age to be diagnosed with it. My consultant told me he had only treated eight women under the age of 30 in the past ten years," she said.

Fiance Chris, 29, an area manager for a car rental firm, has remained strong throughout.

"He is my rock. He has always been there for me - especially on the days when I have needed to have a good cry. He has taken it all from me and always been there to give me a hug and tell me how beautiful I am. All my friends and family have been great - especially mum and Chris," she said.

Penny has finished her treatment and had good results at her three-monthly check-up.

"I know on my wedding day that I will feel I am leaving all this behind me and starting a totally new life with Chris - and I am so looking forward to that," she said.