A PLYMSTOCK mum who was at the centre of a court case over two fast-growing trees has spoken of how she has beaten cancer – for the third time.

Teresa Isaias, aged 52, told The Herald she was "the lucky one" after surviving cervical cancer, skin cancer and most recently, breast cancer.

She decided to speak after the long running legal battle with a neighbour over tall Leylandii trees, which she has now cut down.

The mother-of-three was first diagnosed with cervical cancer at the age of 29, just years after losing her own mum to breast cancer.

"I've lived with cancer since the day I lost my mum. I was with her every day and she was my best friend. To go through the emotional and mental stages of cancer every day is quite a sad life," she said.

Having taken a biopsy the cervical cancer was burnt away by doctors.

In 2000, Teresa saw a doctor after a mole on her arm began to change. She was diagnosed with the aggressive form of skin cancer, malignant melanoma. "It was quite a shock to find it was malignant. Everyday you think of when is the next one going to come along," she said.

Surgeons cut away the mole and a section of the muscle from her right arm removing the cancer. But the family were dealt a third blow when last year Teresa discovered a lump by her left breast. "I found a lump and after the doctors said it was cancer I underwent three weeks of radiotherapy.

"Having to go every day at 7.30am was hard and it makes you very tired but the hospital staff were great – I really couldn't praise them enough."

Teresa, Andreas, husband of 34 years, and their three grown up children jointly run two Plymouth businesses; Greek restaurant, Leandra and the St Elizabeth's House Hotel.

The business woman was sent a letter in February last year asking her to cut down the Leylandii trees but failed to do so until the case was brought before magistrates, where no further action was taken.

But Teresa explained that at the very same time she had discovered "something just wasn't right".

She said: "I don't want to make out I'm a perfect person and I am guilty of ripping up the letter, but it all came at such a bad time.

"I really would have dealt with it a different way had I been well, but part of me was very angry.

"To get diagnosed with breast cancer was such a big blow as I lost my mum to it. I was so worried to put added pressure on my family."

The family have used their businesses to help other local people suffering from life threatening illnesses, offering one man with cancer a free wedding and another who has a brain tumour a free break at the hotel.

Grandmother for now the sixth time, Teresa added: "My family have been absolutely amazing through this and my daughter has been my rock. She has had to take all this on, but I feel like history repeats itself.

"My children are my life, I don't worry about the cancer I worry about my children.

"People say to me why you? But I say why children, why babies, why anyone?

"I'm one of the lucky ones because it has always been caught early enough, but for some people it doesn't always go that way.

"My plan now is to get myself fit and well so I can spend time with my family as a whole."