OVERCOMING cancer is a life-changing event for most people, but Alison Stone has battled the disease three times.

Mrs Stone, from Radley, has battled a rare type of liver cancer that only affects about 12 people in the UK each year.

Now she has welcomed a Cancer Research UK event to be held on Saturday as part of the Oxford Against Cancer campaign.

The charity’s Interactive Science Fair in Bonn Square is aimed at encouraging people to support research in the city.

Doctors thought former graphic designer Mrs Stone, 45, was suffering from gallstones when she first complained of a pain in her back 14 years ago.

But they later found a tumour the size of a rugby ball on her liver.

She said: “I thought I was wasting their time when they said there were no stones. But then they said there was a mass. It was definitely a shock. They operated and I didn’t have to have any other treatment because they it doesn’t respond to chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

“I recovered quite quickly because your liver grows back. It’s the only organ in your body that does apart from your skin.”

Five years after her first operation, at a check-up scan, doctors found the fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma had returned.

Mrs Stone, married to Adrian and mother to Kayleigh, 25, and Lauren, 20, said: “The same surgeon operated again and that was that.”

For nearly nine years the only reminder of her illness was the scan Mrs Stone had every six months and she was “quite complacent”.

Yet doctors told her in March this year it had returned. Once again a tumour was removed.

She said: “There was no warning this time, it came as a massive shock. I took a lot longer to get over it, physically and mentally.

“Before, I had the attitude of just get it over and done with and let me get on with my life.

“It’s very hard for my family to deal with, so I have always been the strong one. I don’t want to look as if I’m crumbling.”

After her second operation she was inspired to take on a job at Cancer Research UK. She said: “This time it hit me a lot more, probably because I know a lot more about it now – it’s in my face every day.

“Working here makes me feel really proud because it’s like I’m giving something back.”

Saturday’s 10am to 4pm event is vital to raise awareness, she said.

“What we are trying to do is get the general public involved with the research that’s going on in their own area and give people an insight into what is going on.”

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