A HEREFORDSHIRE woman will undergo major surgery this summer in her quest to recover from cancer.

Helen Boughen, aged 20, lost several facial bones and her left eye following an operation to remove a large tumour three years ago.

Numerous operations to reconstruct her face followed. But this July the latest and hopefully last stage of treatment will see Helen returning to hospital to receive a second bone graft, after the first one failed.

"Fingers crossed this surgery will be successful," said mum Pauline. "We hope this is the final hurdle and that things will then start to get better."

Helen had her life turned upside down in January 2004 when a simple wisdom tooth extraction revealed a growing tumour in her jaw.

Three rounds of unproductive chemotherapy followed before a decision was made to operate.

Unfortunately this involved the removal of Helen's left eye and bones and teeth on the left hand side of her face, meaning she had to be fitted with a prosthetic eye and jaw.

The tumour came away easily during the operation but a pelvic bone graft did not work, meaning Helen had to return to the Queen Elizabeth Children's Hospital in Birmingham to have it removed.

Now she will undergo similar surgery which, if successful, will be followed by titanium implants. The seven hour operation at Queen Elizabeth's will see Helen kept in for around 10 days.

"If this works hopefully she will be able to lead a more normal life," said Pauline.

"The titanium implants will be placed in the new muscle and bone and if that works she can have some crowns fitted.

"It could also mean that her prosthetic eye will be smaller because the new bone will appear more natural and take up much more room in her face."

Determined Helen, a former John Kyrle High School pupil, refuses to feel sorry for herself and continues to amaze all around her.

"She is such a unique daughter," added Pauline.

"She is a complete one-off. If she wants to do something then nothing will stop her.

"During the illness she has never asked Why me?' She never feels sorry for herself for one minute."

Since the discovery of the tumour Helen has completed her AS levels, passed her Grade 8 piano exam and been awarded a music scholarship at Birmingham Conservatoire, where she is now living while studying for a combined maths and physics degree.

She also took part in last year's Race for Life at Hereford Racecourse.

"We know Helen is not out of the woods just yet but hopefully her determination and willpower can be rewarded with successful surgery," said Pauline.