Radio Oxford presenter Alison Booker, who underwent a double mastectomy three years ago, has revealed she is suffering from inoperable cancer.

The mother-of-two, from Wantage, has been told she could have as little as three years to live after a scan revealed cancerous tumours growing in her lungs.

But despite the prognosis, she says she intends to continue to live her life to the full and three weeks ago married her partner of five years, Andrew Chapman, 40, at Oxford Register Office.

Former afternoon show presenter Alison, who celebrated her 43rd birthday yesterday, said: "I started to feel short of breath at the beginning of the year.

"My doctor thought I was anaemic, but a chest x-ray showed half of one of my lungs was full of fluid and when they drained it they found cancer cells.

"I was very scared, but in a way I was almost relieved. After having breast cancer three and a half years ago, I had always worried it would return and I just thought: 'Right, it's back, bring it on!' "Of course, when they told me they could not operate on it I was very frightened there have been lots of tears.

"But although I know there's a chance the cancer will get me in the end, the doctors say they can treat it to give me more time. I hope that by then, there will be other treatments and maybe a cure."

Alison is taking hormonal drugs to slow down the advance of her cancer. A recent scan showed the tumours were still growing, but she is hopeful for better news at another scan next month.

"I'm just playing it by ear," she said. "But I may have to have chemotherapy.

"In the meantime I have been inundated with cards and messages and texts and the staff at the Churchill Hospital really are world-class.

"My bosses here at the BBC have also been fantastic," she added. "And even though I cannot work as much as I did before because the drugs make me so tired, they have created a role for me behind the scenes in production."

Alison beamed when asked her about her recent wedding. "Andrew had been asking me to marry him for years. I actually proposed to him during the last Children In Need in November, but it was his idea to bring the wedding forward," she said.

"It rained and the music didn't work properly, but it was absolutely perfect. My 15-year-old daughter Joanne was bridesmaid, my 14-year-old son Douglas wore a suit all day! and friends and family shouted encouragement all the way through. It was fantastic."

Asked how her new husband and children were coping with her illness, she said: "Sometimes I think it's hardest for the families of cancer sufferers. People ask me how I am feeling all the time, while Andrew and my children are always in the background.

"I know that Andrew feels frustrated and powerless that he can't help. He'd do anything to take this cancer away.

"I've had 'the big talks' with my children and when they see me struggling they'll give me a hug."

She added: "My daughter said that she'd heard when cancer comes back it can kill quite quickly, and I said: Yes, but it can take a long time'.

"I don't want anyone making a fuss and I don't want to be called brave I didn't choose to have cancer, it chose me and I am definitely not brave.

"But even if this cancer does get me in the end, hopefully it will not be for some time and I'll face it fighting."

Anyone wishing to donate to Cancer Research UK, can do so in Alison Booker's name at: www.giveincelebration.org