A devastated mother has revealed how falling pregnant with her daughter was the cause of her exceptionally rare cancer - and she wants other women to be on the lookout for signs of the disease.

Ashley Shaw, 26, from Widnes in Cheshire, was diagnosed with a tumour caused by the cells that attach the placenta to the womb after giving birth to Layla in October 2014.

Just five women are diagnosed in the UK each year with the cancerous growth, called a placental site trophoblastic tumour.

Ashley with sons and newborn Layla - Dylan, 6, and Declan, 4, the day after Ashley had Layla in October 2014

Ashley and Layla shortly after Layla's birth, before Ashley was diagnosed

Ashley, after her surgery, with daughter Layla last year

Ashley, a rugby stadium operations assistant, said: 'In the months after Layla arrived, I had this strange feeling that something just wasn't right.

'My periods hadn't returned to normal and I felt generally off.

'For months I begged my GP for tests, but it wasn't until I had my routine smear in February 2016 that I was diagnosed with the tumour.

'When I discovered it was a direct result of being pregnant with Layla I couldn't believe it. I'd never heard of this happening before.'

Ashley had difficult pregnancies with her two sons - Dylan, eight, and Declan, six. However, the pregnancy with Layla had been problem-free until 32 weeks.

The expectant mum called the maternity unit when she stopped feeling her baby move inside her.

Then, when she arrived at Whiston Hospital in Prescot, Merseyside, she discovered that her unborn baby had stopped growing as her placenta had failed.

Ashley in hospital shortly after her diagnosis, as her two young sons help her to get around

Ashley in hospital with Dylan, her eldest child. It was a month after her operation and she was in hospital on her birthday

Ashley said: 'I was told that effectively my placenta had died.

'Then I was rushed for an emergency caesarean. Layla was delivered eight weeks early weighing just 4lb 15oz, and thankfully she went from strength to strength.

'After ten days in hospital, I could finally take my little girl home. At that point, I thought all the medical drama was over.'

However, while Layla thrived, Ashley was becoming increasingly worried about her own health. She was having very heavy periods and sharp abdominal pain.

After a hysteroscopy and blood tests, Ashley was told she had cancer

Proud mum Ashley with her two-year-old daughter Layla

Ashley said: 'After the smear test I was sent to the hospital for further investigations as the results showed abnormal cells.'

Then, after a hysteroscopy and blood tests, she was told she had cancer.

'Nothing could have prepared me for the news. I'd never even heard of this type of tumour, let alone thought that it would happen to me.

The only treatment option for Ashley's tumour was a full hysterectomy, before the cells spread to her other organs.

She said: 'By the time that I was diagnosed I'd split up with my kids' dad and had met my new partner, Ryan Bell, 22, in October 2015.

Ashley, seen with Ryan, said: 'I knew I had to have the surgery to survive, but I felt awful for Ryan. He'd barely been with me five minutes when already he was dealing with this'

Proud mum Ashley with her children, Layla, Declan and Dylan, last year

'It was still early days for our relationship, and we hadn't even talked about having children. Suddenly, that choice was being taken from us.

'I knew I had to have the surgery to survive, but I felt awful for Ryan. He'd barely been with me five minutes when already he was dealing with this.'

In March this year Ashley was admitted to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield for the four-hour operation. But during the procedure the surgeon accidentally cut one of Ashley's arteries, complicating her recovery.

She ended up having an artery removed from her right leg for a patch repair, and spent ten days in hospital.

'The surgery was absolutely horrendous,' Ashley said.

Ashley with Ryan and her kids on a day out in August 2016

A healthy Ashley on a day out at the beach with daughter Layla last year

'But, thanks to the support of lots of family and friends, I've recovered and I'm cancer free. In that sense I feel so lucky, because not everyone has that support.

'I have to have regular blood and urine tests to monitor whether the cancer has returned. However, that's a small price to pay for surviving.

'The mental after effects of what I've been through have hit me really hard. I've been diagnosed with depression, and been prescribed medication and counselling.

'I felt like a terrible mother as I couldn't be there for my children while I was recovering, and having no womb left me feeling like less of a woman.

'Now I want to raise awareness for other mums, as this cancer is so rare. If I can inspire just one woman to keep nagging her doctor when she notices something isn't right, it will be worth it.'