My first encounter of cancer was when I was 15 in 2005, it happened just before Christmas which also happens to be my twin sisters and my birthday. I was diagnosed with a rare tumour in my right eye socket called a fibrous sarcoma. I was shocked and upset and it was hard to believe that I actually had cancer.

I had to learn to deal with this terrifying prospect and to help me do that I met my Clic Sargent nurse, Amanda, who visited regularly to do medical things as well as see how I generally was. She proved to be one of the most important people to me; Amanda helped me feel positive.

Treatment began immediately. Firstly I received two lots of chemotherapy, which made me extremely ill. I was very sick and lost a considerable amount of weight as I couldn't really eat. I felt pretty terrible all the time and of course I lost all my hair too. After the chemo I had a scan to see if the chemo was working, but it was bad news. Unfortunately the chemo wasn't taking effect because the tumour was 'slow growing' or 'low grade' it had to be fought another way.

After a routine scan in 2007 I received that fateful phone call... 'we need to see you, there could be a potential problem'. My world was about to fall apart again as my cancer had relapsed in the same place. I thought it would never come back, but out of the woodwork it crawled. I really had the full treatment this time.

It was operation time again, another 7 hour job! They diagnosed the tumour to be the same type as before and roughly in the same place. I had a scar from my right eye brow going down to my nostril.

The tumour was removed successfully and I began the recovery process this time in an adult ward. I missed all my A level exams including a photography exam which was my passion, my college were amazing though and marked me on the work I had already done, again I received some great results.

I started to look towards the future and going to university. But my dream of going to university and coincidently studying radiography was about to be delayed for a year but in the end, I didn't know it at the time, but I never did go to university.

Another thing which I will never forget was meeting Rolf Harris, it was such an exciting day he drew pictures for me and my twin sister and we had tea and cakes.

I really started to struggle to cope with the headaches, due to the steroids and other drugs I was on meant I lost all muscle in my legs and upper arms. So I went round in a wheelchair but after a while I struggled to use my legs at all. I stopped going to hospital, so much as they didn't want me to be there and to be enjoying myself instead. So a doctor from my local practice would visit everyday and deal with my prescriptions.