A BARROW teenager has thanked healthcare professionals and the community who rallied around her after her cancer went into remission.

Madison Elliott was just 16 when she was diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a rare and aggressive blood cancer of the lymphatic system, last year.

During her chemotherapy she also came up against neutropenic sepsis.

Describing the news of her remission as a ‘relief’, the teen said she cannot wait to get her life back to ‘normal’.

She celebrated the occasion by going to a Harry Styles concert with her friend Evie.

Madison will be restarting her first year of college in September studying chemistry, biology and psychology.

“I also want to be able to do some of the things I’ve missed out on because of my cancer; holidays, concerts and festivals are top of my list,” said Madison.

Heartfelt thanks were given to the medical professionals who guided her along every step of her journey.

She said: “I couldn’t have asked for a better team than the staff at the Christie. My consultant Professor Illidge was confident my cancer could be cured and he explained everything well.

“I had a specialist nurse Martha Wilson who looked after everything I needed. I could text her to ask questions or ask her to organise things for me and she made my experience more bearable. The nurses in the TYA were great and they even let me film my PICC line being removed.”

Madison also received support from the Teenage Cancer Trust and Young Lives Versus Cancer.

“Although I wasn’t able to be treated at Furness General Hospital, I did have weekly appointments in oncology and the nurses there were all lovely," she said.

"I am really appreciative of them agreeing to take on some of my care and saving me all of those extra journeys to Manchester.

“Specialist physio David Webster was the first person to really listen to all of my symptoms and sent me for the tests that led to my diagnosis.”

Those in the Barrow community were quick to help Madison’s cause.

Amy, a hairdresser from Salon One, visited Madison at her home and cut her hair to donate it to the Little Princess Trust. She has also made sure that Madison’s wigs are ‘perfect’ and is looking after her hair as it grows back.

“Our local community was incredibly supportive,” said Madison. “It is still surreal thinking about all of these people including many I have never even met who wanted to help me and I will always be grateful for this.

“My mum’s work colleagues at Furness Academy wanted to support me too and I was able to buy a custom-made wig with their donations, which made my experience more bearable.”