A Huntingdonshire mum who discovered she had a rare and aggressive cancer after returning from living in Australia is volunteering at Relay For Life to thank the doctors who saved her.

Vic Wiseman, aged 37, of St Margaret’s Road, Houghton, was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer of the cervix in December 2010 after a routine smear test.

The mother of Tilly, 10, and Arthur, 5, was forced to undergo a radical hysterectomy and doctors removed her ovaries, lymph nodes and cervix.

Now she is calling on Cambridgeshire residents to get involved in the Relay For Life at Wilberforce Road Sports Ground on September 12 to help raise vital funds for Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work.

The 24-hour Relay for Life event involves teams of people taking it in turns to walk round the pitch for 24 hours. At night a two-minute Candle of Hope vigil is held in honour of all those affected by cancer.

Vic said: “I went for a smear test in December 2010. We had spent two years in Australia and we weren’t sent reminders out there but when I came home and registered with the doctor I was sent a reminder and I went along.

“They told me I had abnormal cells but I wasn’t worried at first because many of my friends had experienced the same thing and then heard no more about it.

“The next day I got a call saying I had to go back in. I went back in and they took me into a quiet room. As soon as I saw that sign on the door I knew what they had to say.”

The doctors told Vic that she had a very rare and aggressive tumour and that a radical hysterectomy was the best treatment. She went into hospital quickly for the operation then was at home for three weeks to recover before starting five months of intensive chemotherapy at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, followed by five weeks of radiotherapy.

Husband Russell, 43, and her family rallied round as Vic recovered.

“I tried to shield my children as best I could,” she added. “Arthur was very young and didn’t know what was happening but I tried to play it down massively with Tilly. My father died of cancer when I was 15. It was really frightening and upsetting and I didn’t want that for Tilly.

Brave Vic’s fight has left her determined to do all she can to fight cancer and help the researchers who are saving live

She said: “I just want to help in any way I can – everyone involved works so hard.

“I was in a team taking part last year but this year I’ll be helping out and I’m still fundraising. I sold flowers at Race for Life and I do cake sales at work. I’ll be there helping out and cheering on friends taking part.”