A YOUNG Hereford woman who overcame womb cancer is encouraging others to fight against the “big C” by entering the Race for Life.

Rebecca Dagge, a 24-year-old stable groom from Callow, became one of the youngest people to be diagnosed with that form of the disease in May 2011.

“I was so low in iron I almost ended up having a blood transfusion,” said Rebecca.

“Just walking up the stairs left me out of breath so I was sent for scans to investigate a possible fibroid problem.”

Weeks later surgeons removed a fibroid but tests showed Rebecca had cancer which meant an immediate hysterectomy.

“My mum was with me when we got the news and I could see her quaking,” said Rebecca. “The biggest thing for me was that having a hysterectomy would mean I might never have children but they left an ovary so that gave me hope.”

Surgery to remove the womb took place in June 2011 but Rebecca received a double blow when told she needed radiotherapy too.

As the cancer is oestrogen sensitive, HRT was not an option which meant early menopause.

“My consultant couldn’t be sure the cancer was contained within the womb so I was really upset that I had to have radiotherapy which would stop my ovary from working,” said Rebecca.

“I wasn’t in a rush to have children but the hope that I might one day be able to was completely destroyed.”

Radiotherapy lasted five-and- a-half weeks and Rebecca returned to both her jobs – as a stable groom in Abergavenny and a cashier at Tesco in Hereford – shortly afterwards.

“I’m on anti-hormone tablets now and I have to have regular bone scans due to the risk of osteoporosis but I’m still here thanks to research and early diagnosis,” said Rebecca. “Not everyone is that lucky.”

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life is a women-only series of 5km events which raise millions of pounds every year to help defeat cancer by funding research.

Last year 2,100 women took part in Race for Life in Hereford and raised £112,000. This year organisers hope 2,300 will raise £120,000.

To enter the event, which takes place at Halo Leisure Centre on Sunday, July 14, visit raceforlife.org or call 0845 600 6050.