Good afternoon, these are the latest lunchtime ECHO headlines.
Mum's diagnosis after feeling something wrong while drinking coffee
A "brave" Liverpool woman is urging others to "check their breasts" as she begins a gruelling cancer battle during what should be the "most magical time".
Gemma Parry, of Walton, has been on "quite the journey" throughout her life, but was given a devastating diagnosis in December 2021.
Gemma told the ECHO she "never checks her breasts" but one day was laying on the couch with a mug of coffee on her chest, and as she went to lift it up, she felt a "large lump".
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After starting chemotherapy on December 30, she is hoping the treatment, along with surgery and radiotherapy, will see a positive outcome so they can get on with their lives and enjoy "what should be the most magical time" with their miracle baby.
Read the full story here.
Encrochat drug dealer who used name 'Bigdunc' as his cover jailed
A drug dealer who used the encrypted phone network Encrochat has been jailed.
John Karl Southern was found to have supplied 3.8kg of cocaine, 76kg of cannabis and 3kg of ketamine between March 2020 and June 2020.
Detective Inspector Mike Dalton said: "Southern chose to plead not guilty to the charges and as a result received a considerable prison sentence after being convicted after a trial.
"Our work to bring these people to justice continues day in and day out and we are determined to put them behind bars where they belong for peddling misery on our streets."
Read the full story here.
'Extremely high' number of hospital beds full as Omicron surges
An "extremely high" number of hospital beds are full as Omicron surges through Sefton and across Merseyside.
The importance of a booster jab was reiterated by health officials as hospitals feel the impact of the fast-spreading strain of Covid-19.
Sefton Council's director of public health has reminded people of the importance of a third jab and has warned that the strain of coronavirus still makes people seriously ill.
Read the full story here.
