A BABY who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer just before her first birthday has been given an award.

Jessica May Fidling, now one, from Penshaw, Houghton-le-Spring, was diagnosed with pleuropulmonary blastoma, which originates in the lung or pleural cavity.

She had been taken to the GP a few times with wheezing and was then referred to Sunderland Royal Hospital for an X-ray.

The scan revealed that the top lobe of her right lung had collapsed and she was taken by ambulance to the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

Jessica underwent an operation to remove the collapsed part of the lung and a week before her first birthday in February, her family were given the news that the removed tissue had cancerous cysts.

Doctors thought they had removed all the cancer with the operation and she underwent preventative chemotherapy treatment at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

She had six weekly cycles and then every three weeks until August.

After her treatment she had a follow up x-ray and was given the all clear.

A friend of the family nominated Jessica for the award and she also received a £50 TK Maxx gift card and certificate signed by celebrities.

Jessica’s mother, Claire Gooding, 31, said: “It is such a lovely thing for her to have after everything she’s been through. The awards are a lovely gesture and it is something she will be able to look back at as she is older.”

Paul Wadsworth, Cancer Research UK’s spokesman for the North-East, said: “Jessica is a true ‘Little Star’ who richly deserves this accolade. We hope to acknowledge the bravery of many more children like Jessica across the region and are encouraging family and friends to get nominating now.”