A woman's joy at producing a positive pregnancy test turned to despair when she found out it was a rare form of cancer that mimics an unborn baby.
Tammie Mylan and her husband Richard's elation following the test left them enthusiastically looking forward to the 12 week scan.
When they arrived at hospital they suddenly had to put the brakes on their plans for the future however, Wales Online reported.
An ultrasound revealed there was no baby but a deadly and rare form of cancer that mimics the symptoms of a pregnancy.
What they thought was their precious bump was choriocarcinoma, a fast growing life threatening cancer that begins in what would have been the placenta.
The body reacts to the invasive condition by producing pregnancy hormones, leading the couple - who met seven years before when they were working on TV drama Waterloo Road - to believe a baby was on the way.
The 29-year-old said: “When I had the scan they discovered no baby had grown. I was about three months 'pregnant'.
“Coming up for that first scan I had felt fine but when I turned up it wasn’t fine and they told me something wasn’t right.”
Medics told the shocked couple that Tammie had choriocarcinoma, a type of persistent trophoblastic, very rare pregnancy-related tumours.
When she thought she would be doing baby checks she was instead undergoing surgery at the University Hospital of Wales before being transferred to Charing Cross Hospital.
The London based hospital is a world leader in pregnancy related tumours and treats around 120 cases a year.
Tammie says doctors there saved her life.
When doctors were unable to do more surgery on her, they put her on a gruelling course of chemotherapy.
Every two weeks for eight months she had to go in to hospital for treatment.
“I just had to get through it. Richard was a constant support and came with me to all my appointments,” said Tammie, who is originally from Dundee.
When she was diagnosed Tammie was in her final year of a nursing degree at the University of South Wales.
“I tried to focus on getting on with my degree," she said.
"I couldn’t do my nursing placement so I did my dissertation. That really helped because it gave me focus on something that wasn’t chemotherapy.”
On Friday she graduated with Richard and her mum and dad Diane and Mark by her side.
While she is now cancer free, she has to send blood samples to Charing Cross Hospital for life to ensure the disease doesn't return.
The couple plan to try for a baby again.
“Having children was just something I always presumed would happen," she said.
"I could not imagine not doing it.
“It has reduced my chances but doctors say I can have a family. There is a chance I can’t but there is a chance I can so I am focusing on that.
“I don’t really look back, I’m just grateful I am here and I have got my degree. There is light at the end of the tunnel.”
In the meantime Tammie is concentrating on her new job in the accident and emergency department at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend.
In October Tammie and Richard are running the Cardiff Half Marathon together to raise funds for Charing Cross Hosiptal where she was treated.
To support them click here