'Special' Christmas for teen after cancer treatment

A 14-year-old from Derbyshire is preparing for a Christmas to remember after completing her treatment for cancer.

Izzy was recently invited to ring the bell at Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in March, requiring surgery and three rounds of chemotherapy.

Now her mother Lisa is pledging to make it an extra special festive period as a reward for her courage.

And the teenager opened the season in style on Saturday night by agreeing to turn on the Christmas lights in her home village of Sawley.

Reflecting on her illness over the past few months, Izzy told the BBC: "It has been very difficult and you just want it [the treatment] to be over, because it has been a very, very long year."

Her mother said that it had been a great relief when her treatment was finally over and her daughter was invited to mark the moment by ringing the bell in hosptial.

"It just felt amazing. It was so nice and so good," Lisa said. "I am so proud of her. It was so good for her to see that she had beaten this."

Ovarian cancer usually affects women over the age of 50 so getting diagnosed was not straightforward.

Izzy's initial symptoms were stomach ache and vomiting, leading doctors to believe she could have appendicitis.

But her condition worsened to the point where she could not eat and it was only then that an accurate diagnosis came.

Lisa said: "A mum knows their child better than anyone else and I am so glad that I pushed and pushed [for answers].

"She has just taken everything in her stride and done everything that she needs to.

"Obviously we have had tears and tantrums but kids are very resilient. I think they are a lot more resilient than adults. I am just so proud of her.

"Someone is going to get very spoilt [this Christmas] and it won't be me."

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