SAD! DEVASTATED PARENTS OF TWO KIDS ARE BOTH DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER WITHIN A WEEK

A young family has been dealt a devastating blow after both parents were diagnosed with cancer within six days of each other.

Gemma and Matt Flanagan, who have two daughters aged three and one, will now both undergo chemotherapy following their shock diagnosis earlier this month.

Mrs Flanagan was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer on March 10 after finding a lump shortly after she finished breast feeding her daughter.

Gemma and Matt Flanagan, pictured with their two daughters - Isabella, 3, and one-year-old Harper - will undergo chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer within six days of each other

The 30-year-old immediately underwent various scans and then a MRI-guided biopsy after a second lump was found in her other breast. 

Doctors have since told the mother of two that she will have to start chemotherapy immediately and then undergo a double mastectomy.

While the couple from Townsville in Queensland were coming to terms with the news and trying to work out a plan to support their young family, Mr Flanagan was hit with his own medical diagnosis.

The 40-year-old had booked in for a colonoscopy following digestive problems but was told he had a 6cm tumour in his colon.

Doctors have since told the mother of two that she will have to start chemotherapy immediately and then undergo a double mastectomy. She had initially found a lump on her breast after breastfeeding

It was just six days after his wife had been told of her diagnosis. 

Mr Flanagan is now set to undergo surgery to have the colon cancer removed and will then undergo chemotherapy to make sure the tumour has gone. 

The couple's two daughters, Isabella and Harper, will now have to face both parents undergoing treatment at the same time. 

Mrs Flanagan's long time friend Regina Norris has since set up a crowd fundraising page to help raise money for the young family to cover medical bills and every day expenses while the couple have treatment. 

It has been inundated with donations in the past week with more than $22,000 already raised. 

For more information, visit The Flanagan Fight GoFundMe page. 

Mrs Flanagan's long time friend Regina Norris has since set up a crowd fundraising page to help raise money for Matt and Gemma (pictured) to cover medical bills and every day expenses while the couple have treatment