A WOMAN who discovered she had cancer shortly after becoming engaged has shared her story on TV.

Anita Colson, from Westcliff, was just 24 when, in December last year, doctors delivered the bombshell news that she had breast cancer.

She had recently become engaged to Scott Jarvis, 29, her partner of nine years, and was planning for their future.

Her battle against the illness was captured by camera crews who filmed her at home and during her treatment at Southend Hospital.

The film, which aired on Friday, was made by Channel 4 in partnership with Cancer Research UK for the Stand Up To Cancer fundraising campaign.

Miss Colson, now 25, started treatment at Southend Hospital with surgery to remove her right breast, followed by chemotherapy as well as fertility treatment and genetic testing because she was so young.

She said: “I postponed the wedding straightaway and everything else is on hold for now. Losing my breast was so hard and I am not able to have a reconstruction until the end of next year at the earliest. It was especially hard just after the surgery - any time I went out, I felt everyone was looking at me.

“Then my hair started to come out with the chemotherapy and a friend helped me to shave it all off the morning after the second round of treatment. That gave me back some control and Scott had all his hair shaved off at the same time, but it was still tough as I had always loved my long hair.”

Now Miss Colson is urging men, women and children to help transform the lives of cancer patients and their families by supporting the campaign, which launched in 2012, and has already raised more than £25million to fund research.

As well as supporting the campaign, Miss Colson is trying to remain upbeat throughout her treatment.

She said: “The hospital staff have been great. The doctors, nurses and breast care nurses have been so supportive and understanding. The staff at the chemotherapy unit are so outstanding, to try and be happy and positive and kind every day means an awful lot when you know you have to visit there.”

She added: “I still have severe pain in my feet from some of the chemotherapy drugs, but I am enjoying every moment, every walk to the seafront or every breath of fresh air. I want to enjoy everything and make as many memories as possible.”

Rachel Carr, head of Stand Up To Cancer, said: “Anita is a remarkable young woman whose whole life has been thrown off course by her cancer diagnosis. And even with an extremely tough road ahead she’s chosen to help others by sharing her story to inspire everyone to Stand Up To Cancer and raise money for vital, life-saving research.”

Watch Anita’s film at the Echo website. For more information and to get involved visit standuptocancer.org.uk