A LYMPHOMA sufferer who wrote his first novel as a way of helping him cope with the disease says the book has been a huge success.

Jonathan Taylor, from Darlington, penned his sci-fi novel, The Forgotten Mission: The Return while undergoing chemotherapy.

Since its release last year, the e-book book has topped sci-fi charts, received 20 five-star reviews on Amazon and has recently been released in paperback.

Mr Taylor has also been featured on BBC Radio 5 Live as well as local radio stations.

The 41-year-old former builder said: “I am really pleased with how it has gone. It is getting very good reviews and has been accepted really well.

“I have done everything myself and designed the front cover.

“My son said it was better than Harry Potter and there are quite a few kids at his school who have downloaded it.”

Mr Taylor is currently in what is known as metabolic remission, meaning the cancer is not currently active, but may come back.

He said writing has helped with crippling pain caused by severe nerve damage from the chemotherapy.

“The support from people has really spurred me on and makes it all worthwhile,” he added.

As well as writing, Mr Taylor has raised thousands for the Lymphoma Association and runs the Teesside Lymphoma Support Group, which meets every second Thursday of the month from 6.30pm to 8.30pm in the Holistic Centre of the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough.

The Forgotten Mission: The Return is available in paperback for £8.29 or on Amazon Kindle for £2.30.

For more information visit theforgottenmission.com