A POIGNANT television advert about the stark realities of battling with cancer features a local mum-of-two. Fiona Crompton, from Harpenden, appears in the new Cancer Research ad which is the first to focus entirely on the emotions and experiences of real-

A POIGNANT television advert about the stark realities of battling with cancer features a local mum-of-two.

Fiona Crompton, from Harpenden, appears in the new Cancer Research ad which is the first to focus entirely on the emotions and experiences of real-life sufferers and survivors.

Millions of viewers up and down the country have seen the 41 year old help to highlight the progress made in cancer treatments, while emphasising that there is still a long way to go in beating the disease.

Fiona, who lives with husband Simon, 13-year-old daughter Sophie and 11-year-old son James, was given the devastating diagnosis of breast cancer two days before turning 34.

She had been on a health kick and blamed upper body pain she was suffering on damaging a tendon in the gym. But her mum, who is a nurse, advised her to get it checked.

A course of chemotherapy followed immediately but Fiona still needed a mastectomy.

The disease went into remission but a week after her five-year check-up Fiona was told that the cancer had spread. More chemotherapy followed but she is now living with secondary cancer in her bones.

She said: "You just have to get on with it. There is no choice. Losing my hair for the first time was so traumatic but the second and third time I just shaved it off.

"The worst thing about cancer is that it controls you through hospital appointments and feeling rough, but it's strange what you adjust to."

Fiona was keen to take part in the ad campaign to help raise awareness of the disease and encourage public support so Cancer Research can continue their lifesaving work.

She explained "I refuse to be a victim. I don't feel sorry for myself as that gets you nowhere. I am terrified that I won't see my children grow up and that devastates me."

She added: "Cancer has changed my life in so many ways. I now feel able to make choices about what is important that I may not have considered before.

"I spend quality time with those I love. My family comes first and other pointless things fade away. I now create wonderful memories for my kids as you don't know what lies around each corner."

Around 300,000 people are diagnosed with cancer every year in the UK and the disease is responsible for one in four of all deaths.

But thanks to Cancer Research, more people are now beating the disease than ever.

The charity's UK spokesperson, Helen Johnstone, said: "The phrase 'I've had a really bad day' is often thrown around, but our new ad campaign puts things in perspective.

"Every one of the inspirational people features in the ad is either a cancer survivor or cancer patient, who has experienced the truly 'bad day' which is played out in the ad."

She added: "We have chosen real people, like Fiona, over actors to emphasise that cancer is not something which happens to 'other people', it is around us every day, personally or through family and friends."

For more information on supporting Cancer Research visit www.cancerresearchuk.org