AFTER a compliment on her swimsuit alerted Laina Nielson to a frightening symptom on her body, she headed to see her doctor who assured her it he was "99.5 per cent" sure it was nothing to worry about.

But it was the 29-year-old's persistence to undergo further testing that led to the discovery she had killer breast cancer.

Laina, an oncology nurse, has been enjoying a sunny day at the beach with her boyfriend, Lewis, when they popped into an ice-cream shop.

As the girl behind the counter admired her swimsuit, Laina looked down to say thanks, only to spot a small indent in her left breast.

“When I got home, I started feeling around, and sure enough, there was about a one-inch tumour,” said Laina, from Wilmington, North Carolina.

“I started to panic, obviously.”

New to Wilmington and

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