Breast cancer survivor wins £2.5m on lottery... but insists: 'I'd rather have kept my health'

A year ago Tracy Foster was in the grip of despair as she battled breast cancer.

Now, after two operations and months of treatment, the disease is in remission.

But the woman who feels lucky to be alive has had another piece of luck. She has just won £2.5million on the National Lottery.

The divorced mother of two yesterday told how she was so overcome with excitement when she learned of the win that she dashed over to a friend's house in her dressing gown.

The 40-year-old, from Benfleet, Essex, however, says she would happily sacrifice the jackpot if it had meant not having to go through the hell of battling cancer.

'You can't put a price on your health. You can't pay not to have cancer,' she said. 'I'd much rather have not got ill and not got the money but it looks like my luck is changing now.'

It was in Februray last year that the door-to-door saleswoman for a catalogue company discovered a lump and doctors confirmed her worst fears.

'It was a very difficult time for me. I had two operations and five months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy at Southend Hospital,' she said.

'My family and friends were fantastic but the worst part of it was losing my hair, which went almost overnight. It's growing back now but it's a completely different texture.

'I finished my radiotherapy in October and the doctors have said my long-term diagnosis is very good.

'I've always said every cloud has a silver lining and this win is definitely my silver lining.'

Mrs Foster won a total of £2,561,513 in the July 30 draw with her regular numbers of 4, 26, 28, 32, 44 and 46.

'Silver lining': Tracy with her two sons, dog Lucy and the £2.5m cheque

'I was at home on the phone to my friend while checking the Lotto numbers on the internet when I realised I had matched five numbers,' she said.

'A little in shock, I told my friend I would call her back later. I double checked my numbers throught the results checker and it came back saying I had matched six numbers and had hit the jackpot.

'I called my friend back and dashed round to her house in my dressing gown. I then called my mum who was staying with my aunts. None of them believed me.

'Up until this point I didn't realise how much I had actually won. My aunt checked on the internet and told me I had won over £2.5 million. I was gobsmacked and still am.'

She now plans to upgrade her three-bedroom house, replace her Ford Focus with a more luxurious car and go on a dream holiday to New York at Christmas. Her last holiday was to Tiverton in Devon last year.

Her sons Ross, 20, and Ryan, 16, can also expect to be spoilt, although her Golden Retriever Lucy is the only member of the family to have benefited so far.

Mrs Foster's first spending spree after her jackpot was a trip to Tesco, but the only thing she could think of buying was a four boxes of dog treats and a tin of dog food, costing £12.

And despite swapping a 'worrying' credit card debt for a fortune in her bank account, she has no intention of giving up her job.

'It will be nice not having to worry about money but it won't change who I am or the things I like to do,' she said.

'I have built up a good relationship with my customers and I feel I would be letting them down if I gave it up.

'I'll still be going out once a week, dropping off and picking up my catalogues. It's not just a job to me, it's like a big family because of the social side of it.'

Her son Ross, who is about to start a B-Tech course at a college in Southend, said: 'It still hasn't sunk in.

'All I want at the moment is a basketball stand but I'm sure I'll think of something soon.'

Ryan, who has just finished his GCSEs, said: 'I do like BMX bikes so one of them may be on my wish list.

'I'm just happy for mum. She really deserves the win.'

Mrs Foster's friend, Tracey Pearce, 44, added: 'Tracy has been really brave battling the cancer. If anyone deserves some good luck, then it's her.'