A TATTOO artist who was diagnosed with breast cancer at 28 is taking part in cancer awareness week.

Alex Hennerley, owner of Adorned Tattoo in Ashley Cross, Poole, found herself caring for her young son and trying to run her business while undergoing months of gruelling cancer treatment.

Now 30 and in remission, she is supporting the Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF) Awareness Week, which has been running all this week.

"I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, just days before my son Theo turned two," she said.

"I found a lump, but the doctor and even the specialist told me it was probably nothing to worry about as I was so young - but unfortunately the biopsy proved different."

Alex, who lives in Poole, was told she had a triple negative, grade three form of breast cancer, an aggressive and fast growing strain of the disease.

She said: "I needed surgery to remove the lump, followed by six months of chemotherapy and a month of radiotherapy.

"I spent my month of radiotherapy going straight from Poole Hospital to work, as I couldn't afford not to.

"It was exhausting and pretty terrifying but my family and the other tattoo artists here were fantastic and helped me get through it."

Luckily, Alex found her cancer early and was treated before it could spread to other parts of her body.

She first learned about DCCF when a member visited her shop to ask for support.

"It was the first I had heard of it, but I was really impressed by what it does for local people," she said.

"If someone had told me about DCCF when I had cancer it could have probably helped me through a very difficult time in my life."

Adorned Tattoo is one of around 150 businesses which have already signed up to take part in the awareness week by holding fundraising events, raffles and dress-up days, or simply by displaying one of the charity's collection boxes.

DCCF chairman Chris Thomas said: "We are very grateful for Alex's help.

"Cancer can bring a host of hardships and struggles, but fundraising for DCCF means you are helping people in your community in some of their darkest days."

For confidential information on how DCCF can help call 07593890879 or email info@dccf.co.uk.

To get involved in the awareness week contact Diane Bird on 07718318735 or email dibirddccf@outlook.com.