Cancer survivor urges people to 'enjoy every day'

A nurse who was given a 20% chance of surviving after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer as a child has urged people to enjoy every day.

Demie Risby, from Tunbridge Wells, was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma in April 2006 when she was just five years old.

She had intensive treatment, including a clinical trial, and went on to get married, have a child, and become a paediatric nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

"You never know what's coming the next day, so take every day as it comes and enjoy every day," she told BBC Radio Kent.

Ms Risby said despite remembering the day she was diagnosed at Maidstone Hospital after having stomach pain, she only remembers happy memories from that period of her life.

"I do remember those happy moments, which I think is so great because you often expect children to kind of be scarred by the experiences they have in hospital," she added.

"So I really like to share these stories because I do only remember these happy moments."

The nurse said the experience allowed her to understand what young patients and their parents are going through.

She said: "I can feel what the patient must be going through and what they're feeling, and also coming from that experience, I can also now as a parent understand what parents are going through."

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