Double cancer sufferer Penny Ralph puts aside her own suffering to spend her time and energy helping others

For most people, to be told you have an incurable cancer would be a shock, then to learn a year later, that you have breast cancer, would be devastating.

But Isle of Wight woman, Penny Ralph, is determined to put three years of major illness behind her in an effort to publicise a patient support group - Wessex Against Myeloma (WAM) - that has helped her through these difficult times.

Not only does she want to raise awareness so other sufferers hear of the group, she also devotes her energy to fundraising for the cause.

Penny, 54, was diagnosed with Myeloma - a rare form of bone marrow cancer three and a half years ago.

The cancer attacks the bone, and every year there are 3,500 new cases diagnosed in the UK.

No one knows what causes Myeloma and there is no cure.

Penny, an energetic company secretary for a London bank, first became aware of her illness when she developed chronic back pain in 1996.

Eventually, after seeking physiotherapy, an MRI scan revealed a tumour on her spine, the size of a walnut.

For sufferers like Penny, news of a life expectancy of three to four years is hard to take in, especially when so little is known about the disease.

"I didn't really grasp how final it was.

"As a fit, energetic 50-year-old, I felt cheated. With a responsible and demanding job as a company secretary for a city merchant bank, I just never had time to be ill," said Penny, from Church Hill, Godshill.

She added: "I couldn't imagine being unable to work, let alone grasp that I might soon be dead."

But there is some good news for local patients as they have access to a centre of excellence in the Haematology Department at the Royal South Hants Hospital.

The department specialises in the latest techniques such as stemcell rescue treatments.

Soon after she was diagnosed, with the illness, Penny began an exhausting round of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

But a year later, she noticed a swelling on her breast - completely unrelated to Myeloma - which turned out to be breast cancer.

"This comes under the heading of jolly bad luck," said Penny.

After a mastectomy, Penny returned to the RSH for bone marrow stemcell rescue, the side effects of which can only be described as horrific - major hair loss, jaundice, and constant nausea.

During such a procedure, the body is effectively poisoned, and new bone marrow cells (stemcells) are taken from the patient's body and are re-planted, so they start life cancer-free.

This is the treatment Penny received and for six weeks afterwards, she lay in a sterilised room, sometimes too tired even to pick up the phone.

Fortunately after such an ordeal, Penny is now in a period of remission.

She said: "No one knows how long this will last, but I hope it may be two or three years.

"I don't feel well all the time - there are good days and bad.

"I do have phases of panic, it can get very fraught," said Penny.

"But I'm determined to get the most out of life, and to do what I can to encourage others suffering from the disease.

" I will continue to promote wider awareness of the disease and help raise funds for the International Myeloma Foundation's work towards finding a cure."

Says Penny: "The Patient Support Group is a real life line for us Myeloma sufferers.

"It's no fun being told you have incurable cancer. Many patients and their doctors know nothing about the disease when they are first diagnosed.

"One can feel very frightened and isolated.

"Comparing experiences, and fears with fellow patients is a tremendous comfort."

* WAM meet every couple of months at the Royal South Hants usually on a Saturday morning. Meetings are very informal and they are always pleased to welcome new sufferers.

WAM can be reached via Margaret Morrissey on 01425 611364 or Shirley Crofts at RSH on 02380 825811.