'I was diagnosed with incurable cancer - my bestie says she'll be our surrogate'

MaryKate hopes to get married soon and have children thanks to the help of her best friend

A woman with incurable breast cancer says her best friend offered to be her surrogate when she was worried she’d have to cancel her wedding and plans to have children. MaryKate Carter, 29, had been engaged to fiancé Jason Kenney, 28, for nine months, before finding a 3cm-sized lump on her right breast.

Planning their wedding, which is set to take place on May 3, 2025, after Jason popped the question in April 2023. However plans were soon put on hold when doctors confirmed she had stage three breast cancer in March 2024.

On January 25, 2024, MaryKate was checking her breasts routinely for lumps and with a family history of the disease, she ensures she checks herself every month. But during one of her “religious” checks, she found a grape-sized tumour on her right breast.

Determined to get married and have children, she says her best friend, Emily Bayliss, 27, has even offered to be her surrogate. MaryKate, a client service advisor from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, said: “There’s always going to be a little bit of sadness surrounding the wedding day - but I hate thinking it would be cancelled because of me. Jason and I are determined for the day to go ahead, regardless.

“I didn’t know chemotherapy can hurt your chances of having kids - we were upset. But, I’ve been given an injection to protect your ovaries during treatment - which gives us a little bit of hope.”

MaryKate says her life before cancer was less “planned" and more spontaneous. Since her diagnosis, MaryKate often feels “isolated” at home due to her low immune system adding that her and Jason are "really sociable people. We used to go out all the time - Jason plays rugby, so we were at the rugby club a lot. Now, we have to be a lot more careful - because I can’t catch a cold or anything."

Recalling when she found the lump, she said: “I kept thinking: ‘No, you’ve just felt it wrong, that’s all’ - and I called my mum in tears". MaryKate’s sister, Jess Yates, 27, drove her to the GP the next day.

She was referred for a breast screening at the George Eliot Hospital, Nuneaton, on February 8. Less than a month later, on March 5, the screening results confirmed she was suffering from stage three breast cancer.

“I was in a bit of shock,” she said. “To be honest, I just kept thinking: ‘I really don’t want to lose my eyelashes’ It was almost easier to worry about trivial things, than everything else that lay ahead.”

MaryKate started on four rounds of chemotherapy - then two further rounds of a stronger chemo drug. She also underwent a round of IVF, and managed to produce two embryos which have been frozen for later use.

Her best friend, Coventry-based Emily, has offered to be her surrogate. “I’ve been given an injection called zoladex, which will pause my ovaries during treatment. I still have hope I’ll be able to carry my own kid. If not, Emily has already said she’ll be my surrogate.”

Emily said: "Honestly, it was just a natural decision - my best friend really would be the best mum. The fact that she, more than likely, won't be able to carry a baby shouldn't stop her and Jason from having a family.

"Nothing is set in stone yet, but if I can help them, I will without hesitation. The last year has been traumatic for us all - but MaryKate has had so much stripped from her. I just want to give something back."

After six rounds of chemotherapy, MaryKate’s doctors feared her lump may be growing larger. An MRI scan in March revealed the cancer has spread to her bones. They haven’t given her a prognosis - and have said she could have “months, years or decades” to live.

MaryKate and Jason worried the new diagnosis could result in the cancellation of their wedding. She said: “Everything is booked - I’ve wanted to marry this man for eight years, I started booking things the day after the proposal! It looks like the wedding will still be going ahead next May - I don’t want to be responsible for cancelling it.

“We’ve spent £13k on it, so far - but we’re still yet to buy our bridesmaids’ dresses and other, extra bits. We’ll be getting married at Nailcoate Hall in Coventry. There’s a staircase that goes down to the aisle - I’m going to feel like a princess coming down on it.”

MaryKate’s friend, Louise Thompson, 30, has created a GoFundMe to help MaryKate and Jason’s wedding finances. The pair have so far reached £1.5k - and MaryKate says she’s “completely overwhelmed” by people’s generosity.

“I can’t believe so many people are wanting to help. I hate the situation I’m in, but I'm so overwhelmed by people’s kindness" she said. MaryKate’s GoFundMe link can be found here.