“I am not one who is shy but these pictures weren’t as much about me as about other women who had maybe just been diagnosed with breast cancer.

“It doesn’t have to be a death sentence and there is life after mastectomy.

“The images aren’t fluffy, they are real and I am very proud of them.”

Joanne, who is married to Andrew and has two sons Connah, 19, and Evan, five, posted the images in her own Facebook album and on pages for various cancer organisations.

She has no idea who reported them but the warning came out of the blue.

The message said: “Content you shared on Facebook has been removed because it violated Facebook’s Statement of Rights and Responsibilities.

“Shares that contain nudity, pornography and graphic sexual content are not permitted on Facebook.

“This serves as a warning. Additional violations may result in the termination of your account.”

The message added that Joanne should “refrain from posting abusive material in the future.”

Joanne’s Facebook friends have also taken up the fight and the images have been re-posted as far afield as Australia, the USA, Canada and Spain.

“It’s censorship, pure and simple,” said Joanne. “And I’m not backing down so Facebook can do their worst.”

Photographer Paul Hodgson, of Huddersfield-based Box of Frogs, said the pictures were “inspirational, not salacious or erotic” and added: “This is about showing that a cancer diagnosis does not mean your life has ended.

“These pictures show that you can beat cancer and still be you.”

Joanne, who didn’t need chemotherapy or radiotherapy, is now having breast reconstruction.

A Facebook spokesman confirmed that “several” images had been removed between October and February because they breached terms and conditions.

He said Facebook “welcomed” mastectomy pictures but said that some images may breach regulations on nudity.