TWO friends diagnosed with cancer as teenagers are set to star in a BBC TV show hosted by Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson. 

Mayisha Begum, aged 20, from Hollywood and Sophie Coleman, also aged 20, from Rubery, will be sharing their incredible story as part of charity Teenage Cancer Trust’s BBC1 Lifeline Appeal on Sunday.

Mayisha was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia when she was 17 and officially got the all-clear earlier this year in April. Sophie was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma aged 17 in May 2018 and got the all-clear in December 2018.  

Both were treated on Teenage Cancer Trust’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital unit in Birmingham, which is where they met. 

Mayisha said: “When I was diagnosed, a nurse from Teenage Cancer Trust came to talk to me about their unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and to start with, I wasn’t sure about going, but I’m glad I did.

“I was scared to leave my room at first, but I soon began to realise that it was nice that other people my age were experiencing the same sort of thing and they understood me.

"It was great to listen to the stories of what they were going through and to talk about my experience without feeling pitied. We could relate to each other and I felt less alone.”

Mayisha had to overcome her fear of needles during her treatment, and when she spotted Sophie, who was new to treatment struggling with the same issue and who seemed shy and timid, she talked to her about it and gave her some tips and advice.  

This was the start of a growing friendship which has seen them face cancer together and become, in their own words, ‘like sisters’. 

Sophie said: “I always say that Mayisha is like my Asian sister! During our treatment we spent hours in the games room on the unit chatting, and after my treatment finished, I’d still pop in to support Mayisha through hers.

“Teenage Cancer Trust and our friendship has been a huge part of us getting through cancer, and we’re really proud to be sharing our story together for the BBC1 Lifeline Appeal. 

“So please tune in to the show on Sunday to hear more about our story, and if you can, support Teenage Cancer Trust.”

The show will air on Sunday, September 27 at 2.05pm.