A mother from Lancashire who delayed cancer treatment to give birth has been given the all-clear after Hollywood stars Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio helped fund her treatment. Gemma Nuttall, 29, was diagnosed with aggressive ovarian cancer during her first prenatal scan but refused life-saving drugs that would have terminated her pregnancy.
After giving birth to daughter Penelope, Ms Nuttall was told by NHS doctors that nothing more could be done and she was given six months to live. She and her mother launched a £300,000 fundraising campaign for treatment at a German clinic. Kate Winslet heard about her story and, along with Leonardo DiCaprio, auctioned off three 'Jack and Rose' date nights at a private dinner in St Tropez.
Ms Nuttall completed treatment five months ago and is now cancer-free. She said: 'I can't thank Kate enough. Without her donations, and the public's, my story would be very different.' Winslet said: 'I was able to help raise an enormous amount of money and Gemma is cancer free today.'
Ms Nuttall was first diagnosed in 2013 while pregnant. She refused treatment that would have ended the pregnancy, saying: 'I went home and I told my partner 'I can't get rid of her'.' At 26 weeks, the cancer spread to her cervix, and she had an emergency Caesarean followed by surgery to remove the tumour. Penelope was born weighing 4lbs 5oz on March 24, 2014.
