A TOP Thurrock councillor has spoken publically on her battle with breast cancer at the Labour Party Conference.

Diana Hale, cabinet member for education, addressed hundreds of people in Manchester and spoke on her fears of the consequences of the Conservative Government moving funding away from Primary Care Trusts to GPs.

Cllr Hale said at the conference: “In 2008 I was diagnosed with breast cancer and I started treatment immediantly. I had a full mastectomy and reconstruction and I have been having regular follow up appointments since.

“There is nothing worse than having all the funding moved away from PCTs and to the thousands of GPs in the country.

“Imagine being told by your doctor that breast cancer reconstruction is a cosmetic procedure and not a necessity.

"Do not let this Conservative Government bully those who cannot pay.”

After the conference cllr Hale said: "They phoned last night to see if anybody in the eastern region wanted to talk about health.

"Everyone talks about health in theory so I decided I would tell them what its like in practice.

"I didn't expect to be called up because only a fraction of those who agree to speak go up, so its never a certainty- I didn't really have time to be worried.

"I've had good feedback from people and lots wanted to shake my hand or hug me afterwards so that's good.

"People like me need to stand up and be counted so that women in Thurrock who are too scared to come forward know that they can talk to someone."