A much-loved mum who has received a devastating cancer diagnosis is being supported by her devoted family – including her ex-husband's new wife.

Shel Baldwin, who lives in Gravesend, has been diagnosed with secondary breast cancer, an incurable form of the disease which is affecting her hips, lower back and spine.

Her family have provided constant support for Shel since 2018, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a full mastectomy and chemotherapy.

Now she's been hit with the heart-breaking prognosis and has had to give up work due to the pain and treatment, so her ex-husband Ian's wife, Sue Scholan, set up a fundraiser.

Shel, who has two daughters Chanel and Mica, had been in remission for almost a year.

She received the devastating news last Wednesday, only three days before her 54th birthday.

The mum-of-two said: "Everyone cried. Everyone was devastated. They were shocked.

"They were just expecting it to be arthritis like I have in my hip that I got diagnosed with a couple of months ago.

"It's hit my mum and dad pretty hard. I think Chanel's being brave, but my other daughter Mica's hiding a little bit."

She added: "My journey's been okay since I came through it. But at every little pain I always have that thought 'what if this is cancer? So I haven't really been able to enjoy life as much.

"If the inevitable happens and I do pass away, at least I know my daughters have Ian and Sue to look after them.

"So my advice to anyone out there would be that as soon as you know something is not right, go get it sorted, go get the help you need straight away and do not leave it."

Mica Scholan, 27, could not be prouder of her mother for being "so amazing and strong" after everything she has been going through.

She said: "When she was originally diagnosed the first time, she was so so strong and we never saw her complain or cry once.

"She always told us she was okay and would be there to support others.

"Through her treatment and after, when she's been in pain, she went to work and then would come home and help out her elderly parents and look after her disabled sister.

"She would go back to work the same day as she had the chemo injection in her leg. She has always given her everything to everyone and never expected anything in return."

Mica added: "Imagine getting the worst news you could expect and still putting everyone first.

"Not being able to see her daughters during treatment because we couldn't risk passing illness on to her, and still being their shoulder to cry on.

"Even though we offered ours to her she would only ever say she's fine and was just taking it on the chin.

"My mum is one of the most resilient women, she's strong, kind and funny.

"She is a huge animal lover and even started letting a stray cat in and letting him sleep on her bed in bad weather until she adopted him completely. She's been through tough times and now cancer and she's still putting everyone before herself."

"My mum's sister Tracy and her husband Chris have been amazing to my mum too." Mica said.

"As soon as they found out they made a huge care package filled with all my mums favourite things and things that will comfort her through chemo, such as warm wool headbands for when she loses her hair again and PJs.

"Her elderly parents take her to her many appointments and sit with her for hours until the treatment is finished. They offer support 24/7 and they also put towards her mobility scooter so she can get around more comfortably."

Last week, Sue decided to create a fundraiser and aims to raise £1,000 to help her friend as much as possible. Anyone who wants to contribute can click here to donate.

She said: "The moment I found out about the news, my heart just sank.

"I was just like, oh my God, not again. She's been through so much already. I don't know, I just felt numb. It was awful. It's just not fair.

"I immediately thought about her family and just wanted to help her the best I could. So I decided to do this fundraiser, that way we can help give her the most comfortable life possible for when her time comes.

"I think the biggest lesson I've learned from all of this is to not take life for granted. You never know what's going to happen. Just enjoy every day as it if was your last."