A STUDENT who returned home from a year in Asia to help care for her sick mum is raising awareness of World Cancer Day on Thursday.

Julie Honey, 55, from Peterlee, was diagnosed in June last year with ductal carcinoma in situ, an early form of breast cancer, shortly before daughter Lauren, 21, was due to travel to Hong Kong to study.

The mum-of-two, underwent a mastectomy of the left breast with lymph node clearance in July and was booked in to start six sessions of chemotherapy in August, followed by radiotherapy in the New Year.

At the time Lauren, a third year politics student at Newcastle University, was making plans for an exciting trip to Asia and was due to leave in August, travelling with friends before she started her year placement at university in Hong Kong.

Lauren, who lives in Stanley, said: “It was really difficult to get excited as mum had just been diagnosed.

“But she was adamant that I carry on as planned. I set off on my travels and mum would keep posted by emails and video calls.

“But I just couldn’t concentrate and in one of our video calls she looked really poorly so I decided I had to come home to be with her.”

Lauren returned home and the day after she landed was by her mum’s side for her chemotherapy.

Julie added: “Both my children have been amazing throughout this and have been by my side through all the hospital appointments and recovery.

“I didn’t want Lauren to have to leave university but she insisted she wanted to be at home. It was a remarkable gesture.”

The emails she sent Lauren have now taken on a life of their own and are part of a blog that Julie will launch for World Cancer Day on 4 February.

The blog, chemobabe2015.blogspot.co.uk, details Julie’s experience during her diagnosis, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which she completed on January 22. Julie said: “The blog goes into all the details about how I felt during treatment, the ups and real downs of chemotherapy, wig shopping and how radiotherapy felt like a walk in the park compared to the rest!

“I was diagnosed with cancer but thanks to research, treatment and the support I received, I’m still here today.

“That’s why me and my family are backing World Cancer Day and encouraging everyone to show their support by wearing a Unity Band on February 4.”

The Unity Bands are available from www.worldcancerday.co.uk for a suggested donation of £2.

All money raised from the Unity Bands will go support various cancer charities’ individual research projects and support services.