STILL going strong, years after she'd been given no hope of surviving secondary cancer, Barbara Moran's quiet courage should be an inspiration to us all.

Barbara, 45, who lives in Little Bispham, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992 which resulted in her having to endure a mastectomy.

Full of new hope, Barbara married her doting second husband Phil on a dream holiday in Los Angeles in August 1993.

Phil and Barbara didn't even give it a second thought when they realised their marriage date was a Friday the13th.

Barbara was so happy it didn't seem right to be wary of a superstition.

Soon after returning home, however, their celebrations were cut short when she was given the traumatic news that the cancer had returned, spreading into her spine.

She was told that this time there was no hope and that her survival past Christmas was unlikely.

It was a dreadful blow, but Barbara was determined not to give up.

She had fought it once and she felt that she had nothing to lose by fighting again.

Almost four years on - long past the time when doctors feared the worst - she's still in remission, smiling, fighting and, despite everything, looking wonderful.

Barbara is a founder member of Cancervive, the Blackpool group which meets once a month to give practical, emotional and moral support to victims, their relatives, friends and anyone who has been affected by the devastation that cancer can cause.

She feels very strongly about the fact that too many people sign their death warrants on hearing that they have cancer.

She said: "It isn't the end of the road. Learning to live with cancer is the beginning - not the end.

"At Cancervive we try to encourage victims and their supporters to turn their feelings of fear, anger and hopelessness into positive attitudes.

"It really is mind-over-matter. If the illness is given too much space then it takes over physically and mentally.

"Cancer can be fought positively and effectively through so many different methods.

"People shouldn't be scared to try alternative therapies as well as the conventional ones.

"Medical staff are obliged to give you the facts, but it really is up to the individual on how they handle the illness. At Cancervive there is no such word as terminal."

Cancervive is currently looking for more therapists who are willing to volunteer their expertise in all areas such as massage, counselling and relaxation techniques and anyone interested should contact Barbara Moss on 864655.

Meetings take place at the Whitegate Drive Day Centre in Blackpool on the fourth Saturday of every month from 10.15am.

Everyone is welcome and it's a wonderful way to meet so many courageous people like Barbara.

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