A “vibrant and brave” wife who beat breast cancer has died from the disease after it reappeared years later.
Natasha Cox, from Pembrokeshire, was diagnosed in 2016, after noticing changes to her nipple and breast, but was given the all-clear that year after treatment.
However, in 2021, the 36-year-old began suffering from chest pains and discovered that the cancer had returned and spread to her bones and lungs.
In a bid to access a wider range of treatments privately, friends and family set up a £100,000 fundraiser in November in the hope of paying for alternative therapies.
However, Natasha died last week, just days after qualifying as a solicitor, after £84,000 had been raised.
In a tribute posted on his Facebook page, his family said: “If love could have saved you, you would have been here forever.”
Natasha Cox, from Pembrokeshire, was diagnosed in 2016, after noticing changes to her nipple and breast, but was given the all-clear that year after treatment.
However, in 2021, the 36-year-old (pictured with her husband Martin) began suffering from chest pain and discovered the cancer had returned and spread to her bones and lungs.
Natasha noticed changes in her nipple and a hardening on the left side of her breast and went to see her GP, who referred her for further tests.
Biopsy results on March 7, 2016 confirmed that she had positive estrogen and progesterone and HER2 breast cancer.
Around 55,900 people in the UK and 297,800 in the US are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.
Natasha underwent chemotherapy, surgery and 16 sessions of radiotherapy, which freed her from cancer and gave her the all-clear that same year.
She continued taking tamoxifen, a type of hormone therapy that women are typically recommended to take for five or more years after cancer surgery.
The tablet prevents estrogen from binding to estrogen receptor-positive cancer cells.
After falling in love with electrician Martin, she stopped taking tamoxifen to test her fertility.
While the ovaries continue to function in women taking the medication, this causes periods to become less regular or stop altogether.
Women are advised not to become pregnant while taking tamoxifen and are warned that it may take four to five months for periods to become regular after stopping.
It was then that he suffered “indescribable” pain in his sternum (sternum) that was not relieved by painkillers. He also developed a cough.
Natasha said she knew something was “very wrong” and rushed for tests in April 2021, which revealed she had secondary breast cancer, meaning it had returned and spread to another part of the body, in this case to the sternum and lungs.
Natasha married Martin two months later, surrounded by family and friends, and the couple honeymooned in Kefalonia, Greece.
However, in November she began to feel increasingly unwell and was admitted to intensive care.
His oncologist told him he had to start weekly chemotherapy immediately.
Loved ones created a GoFundMe page, writing: ‘We would like to raise funds to potentially access more professional opinions, private healthcare and anything that can offer Tash more options.
In a bid to access a wider range of treatments privately, friends and family set up a £100,000 fundraiser in November in the hope of paying for alternative therapies. In the photo: Natasha with her husband Martin.
However, Natasha died last week, just days after qualifying as a solicitor, after £84,000 had been raised.
In a tribute posted on his Facebook page, his family said: “If love could have saved you, you would have been here forever.”
“While the NHS has been an incredible resource for Tash over the past few weeks and months, there are limits to what is available to her, we would like to explore the many private and alternative treatments and therapies.”
However, her husband revealed that Natasha died last week.
Martin said he had suffered “a traumatic few months due to complications from stage IV cancer” before his death.
He said: ‘There are no words to express the intense pain that neither I nor his family and friends feel at his passing.
‘I burst with pride knowing that she trusted me to be by her side throughout her journey… which was riddled with rocky roads and slippery slopes, which she handled with absolute grace, courage and dignity.
‘She was my safe place and I was hers, she made me feel like I belonged and her loss will leave a void that can never be filled. Home is not a place, it is a person.
‘With her warm heart and genuine interest in people, Tash had the innate ability to touch the hearts of everyone she met, she was loved and admired.
‘His drive for self-improvement and living life to the fullest was limitless. Even as she dealt with her darkest days, she fulfilled her long-term goal of graduating as a lawyer.
‘She was just amazing. I will be forever grateful for the love, laughter, and memories that I will be able to cherish forever.
Her husband revealed that Natasha died last week. Martin said she had suffered “a traumatic few months due to complications from stage IV cancer” before her death.
He said: “There are no words to express the intense pain that neither I nor his family and friends feel at his passing.”
In a post on Natasha’s Facebook page, a tribute read: “It is with a heavy heart that we are absolutely devastated to have to share that in the early hours of Monday morning we had to say goodbye to our beautiful Tash.”
“Tonight there will be a new star in the sky shining brightly, shining down on us.”
In a post on Natasha’s Facebook page, a tribute read: “It is with a heavy heart that we are absolutely devastated to have to share that in the early hours of Monday morning we had to say goodbye to our beautiful Tash.
‘There are no words that alone can convey the magnitude of the loss we feel as a family.
‘As anyone who had the privilege of knowing her knew, she made the world special just by being in it. She truly was the kindest, most wonderful soul who truly deserved the best in life.
‘For so long, Tash fought with so much courage, dignity and grace, always staying true to herself and fearlessly protecting those closest to her.
‘Even with what she had to endure on a daily basis, Tash continued to work incredibly hard to keep going and on 1 February 2024 she achieved her long-term goal of becoming a qualified solicitor. We are so proud of you Tash.
‘As she passes away, her incredible light will forever shine through the memories and experiences of all those who knew and loved her.
‘Sleep well and rest our beautiful Tash. If love could have saved you, you would have been here forever.