A MERSEYSIDE doctor has visited the man who gave her the chance to live, after her mother was diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy.

Dr Katie Beeston, 24, from Newton-le-Willows, met fertility specialist Professor Brian Lieberman, on the day she graduated from university as a doctor.

It came 25 years after her mum, Barbara, was told she was pregnant – but was also suffering advanced cervical cancer.

She was advised by experts to terminate the pregnancy and have a hysterectomy.

But, just days before the surgery, Professor Lieberman, based at Manchester Fertility Services, called to suggest a different course of action.

After consulting with a cancer specialist at Christie’s Hospital in Manchester, Professor Lieberman told Ms Beeston, 51, there was a chance she could carry the baby long enough to ensure it may survive before having the surgery.

Ms Beeston – who had been referred to Professor Lieberman after earlier IVF treatment had failed – said: "To find out I had cancer was obviously a huge shock, and then within a matter of hours it came to light I was 12 weeks' pregnant.