A KIDDERMINSTER woman who survived blood cancer as a teenager will raise awareness of the cancer in her new role as an ambassador for charity Bloodwise.

Ellie Philpotts, 20, was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2011 - when she was 15-years-old. She had started to experience symptoms in July 2010.

"I had itchy hands and feet, which weren't enough to warrant a doctor's visit and as the weeks progressed, I was feeling slightly more tired," she said.

"By January 2011, just walking down the road to school would leave me gasping for breath and having to constantly stop. I had lost my appetite and was losing weight, had developed a lump in my neck, and most of all, each night I could not avoid a series of drenching sweats - they were as if I had just got out the shower.

"I had put down all these symptoms to a winter virus. My GP initially agreed and thought it was either flu, a virus or glandular fever.

"Later, my GP felt my neck and realised I needed hospitalising.

"I didn't return home until nine days and a diagnosis with Stage 2B Hodgkin lymphoma later."

Ellie has since been made an official 'Patient Ambassador' for the specialist blood cancer charity, Bloodwise.

The Bloodwise Ambassador Programme was launched at the Speaker's House, in Westminster, on Wednesday, September 14, at a special event hosted by the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow MP, and Alastair Campbell.

In her voluntary role as an ambassador, Ellie will speak on behalf of patients to raise awareness of blood cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma, and highlight the needs of people affected by them. She will provide insight into policy issues that affect blood cancer patients, as well as working with hospitals and local healthcare providers to raise awareness.

Ellie's treatment started straight away and she underwent four months of chemotherapy. The treatment was a success with tests showing no signs of lymphoma in her body and she finished her treatment in May 2011.

Ellie added: "I went to school whenever I could, as I did not want to fall behind with my GCSEs, but also because it was some normality away from the hospital environment.

"I even sometimes made classes before travelling the hour to Birmingham Children's Hospital for treatment.

"Five years on and I am currently studying English Literature and Journalism at Cardiff University.

"I am so grateful for everything Bloodwise do for blood cancer patients and survivors like me.

"It is a privilege for me to be an ambassador and be able to give back to the community. Now I am cancer-free, one of my goals is to offer hope to those more recently diagnosed."

September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month and despite it being the fifth most common cancer, public awareness of blood cancers is very low.

For more information, visit bloodwise.org.uk/BCAM.