WHEN Chris Womack was diagnosed with cancer, the first person she turned to was her best friend – only for him to tell her he’d just been told he had it as well.

Chris and Paul Lewis, neighbours in Heathfield Gardens, Bathpool, have been supporting each other through their treatments over the past five months.

And she laid on a bizarre 44th birthday surprise for Paul, who has bowel and liver cancer, to take his mind off his upcoming surgery.

Single mum Chris, aged 41, said: “When I found out I had breast cancer in April Paul was the first person I contacted for support – I texted him ‘Come for a coffee because I’ve got cancer’.

He replied ‘I’ve found out I’ve got cancer too’. It was unbelievable.”

Chris, who has two daughters, Amber, 12, and Indie, nine, and Paul, who is married to Julie with two daughter, Emma, 12, and Kerry, 11, have been friends since they first met 25 years ago.

She said: “Paul’s helped me so much. We made a pact when we found out that we’re going to get to the finish line together, supporting each other.

There have been days when I’ve thought ‘I can’t do this’, so I call him to cheer me up.”

When Chris heard Paul’s family were having a birthday bash for him at the weekend, she arranged for a friend and some of his mates to dress up as Star Wars storm troopers to join the party.

“Paul loves sci-fi stuff and I know how important these moments are when you completely forget about cancer, particularly a couple of days before a serious operation,” said Chris, who has had a mastectomy and lumpectomy and is due for further surgery this month.

“Having cancer and all the treatment hasn’t stopped me for one day – I’m just carrying on with life and even went on all the rides at a theme park when I was still fully stitched up after my op.”

Paul said: “It’s unfortunate and we wouldn’t wish it on each other but it’s there and it’s nice to have someone to talk to who understands what you’re going through.

“There was complete disbelief when we told each other we both had cancer and it’s been a case of trying to look after each other.”