WHEN her twin sister Amanda Firth was diagnosed with breast cancer, Debbie Crowder lived in fear of the disease.

But, within a year, she, too, was a victim of the same cancer which affects thousands of women -- and men -- each year.

Today -- the first day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month -- Amanda is in remission, while Debbie is still undergoing treatment

The message from the 32-year old twins to everyone is to be breast aware -- at any age -- and report anything to a doctor.

"The main thing we want to get over to women is that you can get breast cancer in your thirties," said Debbie, a mother from Farnworth.

"There is so much emphasis on women aged 50 and over.

"They offer mammograms when you turn 50 -- but we want to get across to women of our age that you shouldn't underestimate your own body.

"Don't wait until you are 50 before you start checking. You should check yourself from your twenties.

"We want to make women aware.

"I've met people at the clinic in their thirties when I go for my chemotherapy -- it isn't just older people sitting there.

"We also think there are a lot of people out there who might find something and don't go to the doctors."

The sisters' own story is particularly poignant.

Amanda, a customer services manager from Chorley, discovered she had breast cancer when she was 30 weeks pregnant.

It forced her to be induced at 34 weeks, giving birth to daughter Olivia by Caesarean section.

Since treatment, Amanda has been given the all-clear.

Debbie lived in fear of the disease for 12 months after Amanda was diagnosed -- then she found a lump which was due to be removed last July.

But just before the operation, she found another lump and a mastectomy was called for.

She had hoped to have a reconstruction at the same time -- just like her sister -- but this was impossible.

Debbie was also told one of the lumps showed oestrogen, which means she will have to take the drug Tamoxifen for the next five years to stop the cancer from spreading.

"It just seemed to get worse and worse," said Debbie, who was treated at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

"But at the end of the day, I'm positive about it.

"I've got a good family, a husband and a little boy of 22 months -- and it is not going to beat me."

Debbie will be undergoing chemotherapy until January followed by radiotherapy at Christie Hospital.

"The chemotherapy isn't too bad, actually," she said. "I seem to cope quite well.

"I feel unwell for a couple of days and after that I seem to be fine. On the two weeks when I don't have chemo, my family can't catch me in -- because I make the most of it. I get up and get ready to go out with my son, Joseph McGinlay."

Debbie added she was very grateful for the support from her husband, his family and her mother, as well as the medical staff.

"At first, my mum took a few months off work to look after me but I feel well enough to look after myself now.

"Your attitude helps as well. The nurses and doctors can't believe how well I'm doing. They have been really supportive."

But the chemotherapy did result in Debbie losing her blonde locks. She decided to have her head shaved rather than have her hair falling out in clumps.

"My hairdresser is fantastic," she said. And her hair will grow back. "I wear a wig when I go out and I wear different caps in the house."

Debbie said she has now also come to terms with the mastectomy. "At the end of the day, what's a breast compared to a life," she said. I've only got one breast now but in time I can have a reconstruction. I'm not particularly bothered about it. I'm just lucky to be alive to see my little boy grow up. That's more important." Please get it checked, says nurse ANNIE Angle, senior information nurse for The Cancer Research Campaign (the BEN's partner in the Bolton Busting Breast Cancer campaign), said:

"These two women have a family history so they are at high risk.

"But it is not the most common age group to get breast cancer.

"Having said that, it is important that all women of all age groups are breast aware and regularly check for lumps and bumps and report anything to the doctor.

"The majority of breast lumps found by women themselves aren't cancerous.

"But women should still get it checked out."