A 60-year-old woman from Oake has thanked all those who have helped her to successfully fight bowel cancer.

Jacki Penny, back working at the Co-operative Funeralcare in Three Cups Yard in Bulford, Wellington, for the first time in over six month, said: “What kept me going was all the love and support I got from friends, family, colleagues and even clients, my wonderful families that I met through my work, who took time from their own grief and heartache to send me cards and ‘thinking of you’ messages.”

”This was so humbling and kind, and made such a massive difference – I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”

All told Jacki, who is married with three grown up children, spent six months battling the disease which came to light just after her 60th birthday. Treatment involved seven and a half weeks of daily visits to Bristol.

She added: “There were good days and bad days as any cancer sufferer will tell you.

“On the bad days I was as low as it is possible to go. I was not a brave patient; I was grumpy and unhappy. ‘This is unfair; why has this happened to me?’

“So many people feel embarrassed at the cancer word. Lots of sufferers suddenly find friends no longer visit or contact them, which results in a feeling of being desperately sad and alone.

“So if you know someone who is ill, drop them a line, send a card, text a greeting, show you are thinking of them. That tiny act will lift their spirits and help them keep battling.

“Thanks to my medical care at Bristol Oncology I am now in remission and back at work.

”If there is anyone who wants a coffee and a chat, it would be lovely to see you and catch up with Welly news.”

Jacki Penny found she had cancer after using a routine Government screening programme card.

She admitted: “I had had concerns about my health before the illness but did not act on this.

“I had ignored symptoms as I was too embarrassed to go to my doctor. What saved my life was a bowel cancer card sent from Musgrove Park Hospital when I reached 60 years last June. I followed the instructions in my own home, and sent it off. The next day I got a phone call asking me to go in urgently for scans, and a week later I was sat in front of a consultant breaking the news to me that I had cancer. I was incredibly lucky, I suspect many people who receive that screening card just throw it in the bin.

“I love my job and I’m so glad to be back. But I must stress I’m not cured but I’m in remission .”