Girl who beat cancer set to start big race
ATEENAGE cancer survivor will be taking to the stage to start off this year’s Race for Life.
Melissa Sutton, from Whitworth, will be leading thousands of girls and women at Heaton Park for the annual 5k, 10k and Pretty Muddy races in aid of Cancer Research UK tomorrow (Sunday).
The 17-year-old has recently been told she is now cancer free after having four of her ribs removed to treat her condition.
The former Whitworth High pupil was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma, a type of bone cancer that effects children and young people in October 2014.
She underwent chemotherapy and 30 sessions of radiotherapy and is now thankfully on the road to recovery.
She said: “Since getting the all clear I’ve been building my fitness back up so the Race for Life 5k has been something to aim for.
“I’m excited about setting the runners off and going on stage.
“I hope my story will help inspire people to take part and raise funds for more research so that there can be more cures and kinder treatments.
“Going through cancer has been very tough but it’s been an experience that I will always remember and which will make me look at life with a different perspective.”
Melissa first started experiencing pain in her chest and swelling on her left side.
Doctors initially thought she had muscle pain but an x-ray revealed she had a partially collapsed lung.
Melissa said: “They told my mum I had cancer while I was asleep.
“Then when I woke up my mum told me with a consultant.
“The first thing I thought about was losing my hair, but when it came to it I wasn’t actually that bothered.
“At the start I wore my wig for school but after a while I stopped doing – even for my prom – and my little sister once mistook me for a bald man in the supermarket!
“I’ve just had to laugh about some parts and I think the main thing for me was to keep positive.
“I found the intensive phase of my chemotherapy the hardest – it made me feel really awful.
“I got through it by watching a lot of box sets!
“You just have to learn to look forwards.”
Melissa, who is now back at college studying media make-up, will be taking to the stage at Heaton Park tomorrow (July 17)
To enter the Race for Life visit raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770.
“I hope my story will inspire people to take part”