It was ten years ago that Cathryn Nosrati was told she had the incurable cancer non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. She had complained of painful stomach cramps and after a check up by her doctor, who found a lump on her stomach, she was sent to hospital where tests showed she had the cancer - and it was spreading fast.

"I honestly thought I was going to die. I just couldn't believe it," she said.

"I was told it was incurable and that most people only live five, maybe ten years with treatment."

It was after 18-months of gruelling chemotherapy treatment that Cathryn said she could take no more of the treatment. With her illness so severe, her doctors decided she would be a perfect candidate for a new vaccine being developed at the Tenovus research centre in Southampton.

Originally given a low dosage over 12 weeks, it was after a final dose of chemotherapy that Cathryn was told her cancer had gone into remission.

"It was amazing," she said. "After being told I could die in five years and for it to go into remission, I was more than quite relieved.

"The vaccine saved my life and I don't think for a second that if I wasn't the first human guinea pig for the treatment, that chemotherapy would have had the same effect."

In the eight years Cathryn has been in remission, she has travelled to countries all over the world taking in the sights of places such as Malaysia, Greece and Hawaii, with her partner, Steve. And she now spends most of her time gardening at her home near Verwood and walking her beloved dogs Oscar and Fudge.

"It has really given me a new lease of life," said the housewife, who celebrated her 50 th birthday this year.

For the full story about Cathryn's journey see Living in tonight's Echo