Cancer-stricken lawyer, 36, dies after three-year battle as heartbroken family says: ‘If love could have saved you, you would have been here forever’
A ‘vibrant and courageous’ woman who overcame breast cancer has died from the disease after its heartbreaking recurrence years later.
Natasha Cox, from Pembrokeshire in Wales, was diagnosed in 2016 after noticing changes to her nipple and breast, but was diagnosed that year after treatment.
In 2021, the 36-year-old developed pain in her chest and discovered that the cancer had returned and spread to her bones and lungs.
In a bid to privately access a wider range of treatments, friends and family set up a £100,000 fundraising campaign in November in the hope of paying for alternative therapies.
However, Natasha died last week – just days after qualifying as a lawyer – after £84,000 had been raised.
In a tribute on her Facebook page, her family said: ‘If love could have saved you, you would have been here forever.’
Natasha Cox, from Pembrokeshire, was diagnosed in 2016 after noticing changes to her nipple and breast, but was cleared that year after treatment
However, in 2021 the 36-year-old (pictured with husband Martin) suffered pain in her chest and discovered the cancer had returned and spread to her bones and lungs.
Before being diagnosed, Natasha noticed changes in her nipple and a hardness on the left side of her breast. She went to her GP, who referred her for further examination.
Biopsy results in March 2016 confirmed she had an aggressive form of breast cancer.
Around 56,000 women in the UK and 300,000 in the US are diagnosed with breast cancer every year.
Natasha underwent chemotherapy, surgery and 16 sessions of radiotherapy, which cleared her of the cancer, and she was given the all-clear later that same year.
She continued to take tamoxifen, a form of hormone therapy that women typically need to take for five years or more after cancer surgery.
The tablet prevents the binding of estrogen to estrogen receptor-positive cancer cells.
After falling in love with electrician Martin, she stopped taking tamoxifen to control her fertility.
While the ovaries continue to function in women taking the drug, this causes menstruation to become less regular or to stop altogether.
Women are advised not to become pregnant while taking tamoxifen and are warned that it may take four to five months for periods to return to normal after stopping.
At that point, she started experiencing “indescribable” pain in her sternum – the breastbone – that did not go away with painkillers. She also developed a cough.
Natasha said she knew something was ‘very wrong’ and had to be urgently tested in April 2021, which revealed she had secondary breast cancer – meaning the cancer had returned and spread to another part of the body, in this case the sternum and lungs.
Natasha married Martin two months later, surrounded by family and friends, and the couple went to Kefalonia, Greece for their honeymoon.
However, in November she began to feel increasingly unwell and was admitted to intensive care.
Her oncologist told her to start weekly chemotherapy right away.
Lovers created one GoFundMe page, writing: ‘We would like to raise money to potentially gain access to more professional opinions, private medical healthcare and anything that can give Tash more options.
In a bid to privately access a wider range of treatments, friends and family set up a £100,000 fundraising campaign in November in the hope of paying for alternative therapies. In the photo: Natasha with husband Martin
However, Natasha died last week – just days after qualifying as a lawyer – after £84,000 was raised
In a tribute on her Facebook page, her family said: ‘If love could have saved you, you would have been here forever’
‘Although the NHS has been a great resource for Tash in recent weeks and months, there are limits to what is available to her. We are keen to explore the many private and alternative treatments and therapies available.”
Her husband revealed that Natasha died last week.
Martin said that before her death, she had spent “a traumatic few months dealing with the complications of stage IV cancer.”
He said: ‘There are no words to express the intense sadness that neither I nor her family and friends feel at her death.
“I was bursting with pride knowing that she trusted me to be by her side throughout her entire journey… which was fraught with rocky roads and slippery slopes, both of which she navigated with absolute grace, courage and dignity.
“She was my safe place and I was hers, she made me feel like I belonged and her loss will leave a hole that can never be filled. Home is not a place, it is a person.
‘With her warm heart and genuine interest in people, Tash had the innate ability to touch the hearts of everyone she met, she was loved and admired.
‘Her drive for self-improvement and an optimal life knew no bounds. Even while dealing with her darkest days, she fulfilled her long-term goal: qualifying as a lawyer.
‘She was just incredible. I will be forever grateful for the love, laughter and memories I get to keep forever.
Her husband revealed that Natasha died last week. Martin said she had spent “a traumatic few months dealing with the complications of stage IV cancer” before her death
He said: ‘There are no words to express the intense sadness that neither I nor her family and friends feel at her death.’
A post on Natasha’s Facebook page paid tribute: ‘It is with heavy hearts that we are absolutely devastated to share that we had to say goodbye to our beautiful Tash in the early hours of Monday morning.’
“There will be a new star in the sky tonight, burning bright and shining down on us.”
A post on Natasha’s Facebook page included a tribute: ‘It is with heavy hearts that we are absolutely devastated to share that we had to say goodbye to our beautiful Tash in the early hours of Monday morning.
“There are no words alone that can convey the magnitude of the loss we feel as a family.
“As anyone who had the privilege of meeting her knew, she made the world special just by being in it. She was truly the kindest and most wonderful soul who truly deserved the best out of life.
“Tash fought with such courage, dignity and grace for so long, always staying true to herself while fearlessly protecting those closest to her.
‘Despite what she had to endure on a daily basis, Tash continued to work incredibly hard to progress and on February 1, 2024, she achieved her long-term goal of becoming a qualified lawyer. We are so proud of you Tash.
“While she is gone, her incredible light will forever shine through the memories and experiences of all who knew and loved her.
‘Sleep well and give our beautiful Tash some rest. If love could have saved you, you would have been here forever.”