Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report

This woman who risked her own life by quitting breast cancer treatment to protect her unborn child has given birth to a healthy baby boy.

According to local media, 28-year-old Nguyen Thi L. from the northern Vietnamese capital Hanoi was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer two months ago when she was five months pregnant.

However, the brave mum declined radiation therapy so that her unborn child could develop without risk, despite the likelihood that the decision could lead to her own death, according to reports.

Pictures Credit: AsiaWire & AsiaWire/K Hospital

During the next two months of pregnancy, the young woman suffered a lot of pain and struggled to carry out day-to-day activities.

She was even experiencing breathing difficulties and her immune system was said to have been deteriorating day by day.

However, the pregnancy was advancing well until Nguyen’s condition became so serious that doctors decided to deliver the baby prematurely.

The baby was successfully delivered last week and the proud parents, who burst into tears along with the surgery team, named the tot Do Binh An, meaning ‘peaceful’. Although healthy, the baby was transferred to an incubator because of the premature C-section birth but is reportedly doing well.

Hospital director Tran Danh Cuong called the delivery one of the most complicated surgeries he has ever carried out in his career as the sick mother had to sit up the whole time and had breathing problems. After the baby was born, there was then another battle to save the mother, which was also reportedly successful.

He also praised Nguyen’s dedication to her child as her condition was reportedly severe at the time.

Cuong said that the first thing she said when she regained consciousness was how much her baby weighed. The baby weighs 1.5 kilogrammes (3.3 lbs).

The mother’s cancer prognosis is currently unclear but it is understood to be terminal.