A mother who drew inspiration from her struggle with cancer has written a book to help others cope with being diagnosed with the disease.

Millicent Pierre-Louis, 50, wrote ‘When Cancer Saved My Life’ after realising while washing dishes in her Ilford home that she believed battling breast cancer changed her life for the better.

When she was diagnosed with cancer in August 2012, Millicent was working as a recruitment consultant in the city.

She said: “My life was about finding people jobs, going to meetings, making and spending money.

“Life was good.

“After having my son through IVF, I took the risk to set up my own recruitment business.

“But then when my son was aged two his father and I separated and shortly after that I discovered a lump in my right breast while having a shower.

“I was told the diagnosis and advised to have a mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy.

“I thought my world had come crashing down and I broke down in tears.”

Ms Pierre-Louis underwent a mastectomy and surgery to remove 12 lymph nodes – as two showed evidence of cancer - and a round of chemotherapy at King George’s Hospital, in Goodmayes.

She started blogging about her experience, which now forms the basis of her book.

She said: “I found the experience of writing incredibly cathartic.

“I cried the entire first day, I was exhausted afterwards.

“It was the first time I had cried since the day of my diagnosis.

“It felt unbelievable; I released so much emotion, tears and tension all bottled in from when I just had to be practical and get through it all.  

“I am really happy that I wrote the book.

“It was important to me at the time of writing that others could benefit from it.

“We all have trauma in our lives and I really hope that the book can help others.”

Ms Pierre-Louis has been free of cancer for three years and she believes the experience has made her a better person.

She said: “After initially being told by my sister that I was crazy for thinking that cancer had saved me, I knew I had to find a way to let other people know that good can come from painful experiences.

“I came out of the other side much more open to people and grateful to them.

“Cancer opened my heart and I now live a very different life; one not of selfishness.

 “I benefited greatly and I know that through this experience I now live a much more fulfilled and happier life.”

The book goes on sale tomorrow.