Emma Harrison reports on a young mum who battled against cancer and has turned her energies into keeping other people fit and healthy.

HOCK descended on the Davies family 18 months ago when Mum Lesley was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 37.

Lesley and her husband Nigel had to break the news to their two teenage daughters, Emma and Heidi, after cancer specialists at York District Hospital confirmed that the lump she had found in her breast was malignant.

Lesley fell quickly into a painful round of surgery and months of tiring treatment at York District Hospital and Cookridge Hospital in Leeds.

But eighteen months down the line, Lesley has bounced back to full fitness and is now turning her sights to joining Nigel in his personal trainer business.

"I just couldn't believe it when I found the lump. It was such a shock to me," she said. "I had always led a fit and active life, never drunk much, never smoked and here I was in my thirties and I had cancer."

Lesley served in various York shops most of her working life but stopped work while she endured a lumpectomy, three weeks of intensive radiotherapy, and 52 hours of pulse treatment.

"It was a very difficult time for us all. The word cancer can provoke varied and difficult emotions in everybody and as a young family it was hard.

"The treatment was very tiring. It put a strain on me, my husband and my children.

"We were in a crisis - but months down the line I am turning my cancer into something positive.

"I can honestly say it has changed my life dramatically in a very good way. I used to be a shy person with very low self-esteem. But today I'm confident and positive."

Lesley is just finishing a course in Leeds to give her the formal qualifications to be a personal fitness trainer and starts work with her husband at York-based One Vision next week.

"I believe that because I was physically strong before I was diagnosed with cancer it helped me to come through. Mind over matter and a fit and healthy body has to be beneficial when facing any crisis.

"As I have got back into fitness myself I came to appreciate that we have to be aware of our bodies. Keeping fit and eating healthily has a knock-on effect in all aspects of our lives."

Nigel has been running One Vision for five years and was delighted when Lesley said she wanted to join him.

"She has come through a traumatic stage in her life and turned it into something amazing for her and now for other people.

"She is an inspiration to me and I know that clients will benefit from her attitude and confidence in triumphing over cancer."

Lesley, who will be coaching her new clients at Fitness First in Clifton Moor, is still taking anti-cancer drug Tamoxifen daily.

She said: "It does make me tired and, if I let it, I could become lethargic. But I have found keeping active helps me to keep on top of it."

Before branching out into personal training Lesley worked as an assistant in the ultrasound department at York District Hospital.

"I went into this as soon as I was fit and well, after treatment. This in itself was a complete career change for me. But when I was sitting recovering I knew I had to give something back to the hospital and offer myself as a support for people in a similar situation to what I had been in.

"It was my way of doing something to help and this new job in fitness is just an extension of that."

Lesley hopes her story will inspire other women to take greater care of their bodies and take an active interest in keeping fit and healthy.

"Cancer can be an enormous set-back in life. But there is hope and by treating our bodies and minds with great care we can assure an inner strength to cope and come through it."

PICTURE: York mum of two Lesley Davies, who has recovered from breast

cancer to start a new career as a fitness trainer