A family say they are "blown away" after more than £115,000 was raised to help a young mum with terminal cancer access potentially life-extending treatment.

Nicola Biddiscombe, from Gravesend, was diagnosed with stage three triple negative breast cancer in April.

Nicola was diagnosed while pregnant and had to delay some treatments to safely deliver her daughter

It is among the most aggressive and difficult to treat and disproportionately affects younger, pre-menopausal women.

The 34-year-old, who works as a carer at Gravesham Community Hospital, was heavily pregnant with her third child when she was diagnosed.

Due to the aggressiveness of the cancer, chemotherapy was started immediately but as Nicola was expecting, investigations into her treatment had to be paused.

Since the birth of daughter Jasmine, the disease has now spread to her lungs, skin and liver and is now terminal.

Partner Todd Miller who is also father to Delilah, six, and Rudi, two, said the outlook did not look good.

"When she got the news it was not great," the 37-year-old said.

"We knew we had that second set of chemo to come. But her oncologist was not confident."

With Nicola's chemo plan faltering, friends of the family set up a fundraiser in the hope of exploring alternative costly treatments that might buy the young mum-of-three more time.

Since it launched just under two weeks ago it has amassed more than £115,000 in donations.

"It has been absolutely phenomenal we are blown away," said Todd. "We literally don't have the words to describe how thankful we are."

The self-employed plasterer, who has been unable to work after shattering his pelvis in a motorbike accident, says the messages of support have given Nicola a huge boost.

"She is in good spirits it has lifted her," he added.

Close friends have been chipping in with mortgage payments while the pair care for the kids and seek out different treatment options.

The couple say they are so thankful for the support they have received to allow them to keep as normal a routine and family life as possible for the kids.

They have also been reassured Nicola is on the right chemotherapy plan and have been given lots of advice and support for alternative treatments.

"We have had a lot of treatments suggested which has been a massive help," said Todd.

"The first one didn't do anything so they have started her on a new concoction of drugs."

A new breast cancer drug, known as Trodelvy – currently available in the US – could also help.

Trodelvy was given accelerated approval in the States last year after clinical trial results showed the drug can work to shrink cancer in patients who prove resistant to chemotherapy.

It is not a cure but can ease a patient's symptoms and give them a longer life expectancy.

The drug is set to be approved for UK use in the next few weeks, but the company that owns and markets it hasn’t finalised a deal with the NHS.

"That is what we are pushing for," said Todd. "But we don't think it will be here in time for Nicola."

As it currently stands, the decision on whether Trodelvy can be offered to patients like Nicola may not be made until later this year or next.

But failing that Todd hopes the couple's efforts can help blaze a trail for others like them.

He added: "If with all this we can help people have that check or get that drug we are giving back a little."

To donate to the fundraiser click here.

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