Helen Puddy is preparing to take part in the Bristol Half Marathon – despite having treatment for a rare form of cancer.

Helen was first diagnosed with adrenal cortical carcinoma when she was 18 but despite undergoing chemotherapy she has started running to raise funds for the services that have supported her, raising more than £4,000 so far.

About one or two people in a million are affected by this form of cancer, which affects the adrenal gland.

It is so rare that the consultants in Bristol have had to take advice from colleagues in London because they have not dealt with such a case before.

The 22-year-old was undergoing nursing training when she started suffering pains in her lower back.

Her doctor thought she might have an infection, and initially prescribed a course of antibiotics but when she was still suffering a lot of pain Helen was referred to A&E.

Helen, of Headley Park Road, said: "After an ultrasound they told me there was a mass but said that they didn't know what it was.

"It did not cross my mind that it could be cancer. You don't think of it."

Keyhole surgery followed to remove the tumour and it was not until Helen received an appointment letter that she found out it was cancerous.

She said: "That was a complete shock. I didn't really know how to feel at that point in time. I was only 18 and associated cancer with death.

"Adrenal cortical carcinoma is so rare and they could not understand why someone of my age should have it."

It was hoped that the whole tumour had been removed during the first operation so Helen was left to get on with her life.

But when she was 19 the ambulance technician started suffering similar back pains again.

She said: "For a long time I didn't say anything to anybody because I was almost in fear because the pains were so similar to the last time, but as they got worse my parents noticed so we went back to the hospital and they discovered another tumour."

The second tumour was near one of her kidneys, over the adrenal gland, so open surgery was required to remove it and she had to undergo chemotherapy, which she found tough.

Treatment seemed to be successful again but about a year later another tumour was discovered and Helen had to undergo another four operations after tumours returned.

She found that most people being treated at the oncology centre were a lot older and there was nobody going through the same type of treatment as her and did not know where to turn for advice or support.

Helen, who lives with her parents Dave and Sue and brother Matt, went to Penny Brohn Cancer Care in Pill for emotional support.

She said: "Penny Brohn really helped me to come to terms with things. I could ask anything I wanted without having to worry that I would hurt or upset them.

"I saw that there was a 10k race I could take part in for them, and despite being between my first operation and the end of my chemotherapy, I wanted to give something back.

"I wanted to do something to show that I really appreciated what they did for me, and are still doing for me."

She was working for David Lloyd at the time so told people what she was doing and encouraged people who use the gym to sponsor her and raised more than £4,000.

Helen later approached CLIC Sargent for help to see if they could think of any support groups and they took her under their wing.

Although she was a lot older than the other people supported by the charity she was taken to a Kaiser Chiefs concert and given the chance to go to Glastonbury Festival last year, which unfortunately she was too unwell to benefit from.

Helen said: "I wanted to meet other people who felt the same way as me.

"They were fantastic and did quite a bit for me, so this year I am running the half marathon for them because I want to show them that I appreciate what they did for me."

Helen has just had another operation to remove a tumour and will return to see the doctors this week to find out how she is getting on.

She said: "I hope they will say go and live your life and don't have any more chemotherapy, but at the same time there is always the fear that it will come back because I have not gone for a year without it coming back yet."