Cancer sufferer Kirsty amazes doctors with her rapid recovery

"But when my consultant said my chances of survival would be better if I lost weight, it was a real incentive for me, so I joined a gym but my size didn't change.

"My friend lost weight for her son's wedding through Slimming World in Northwood and not only did she look amazing, she was also more sprightly and suffered from asthma much less, so in March 2008, I signed up. I was determined I wasn't going to die."

Kirsty, a property consultant, started to lose weight steadily, but after the cancer medication affected her heart, she was forced to stop exercising and give up her much-loved sailing hobby.

She said: "I had been pretty upbeat during the chemotherapy but while waiting a cardiologist to investigate my heart condition, I felt fed up and constantly exhausted.

"I barely had the energy to walk up the stairs to bed and the drugs made me irrational and illogical. I also felt demoralised by not being able to sail.

"I stuck with the slimming club because everyone was so supportive and inspirational - one woman lost four stone despite having a broken leg."

After being given the go-ahead to exercise again, Kirsty has since shed two and a half stone, astonishing her consultant.

She said: "He was very concerned and actually thought the cancer had come back again when he saw how much weight I lost.

"I still have an injection once a month and have to take medication every night, which can cause people tend to put on weight, but joining the club was a real turning point for me. I still get tired but I am learning to manage it and I feel good.

"He asked me to tell everyone in the waiting room about what I had achieved, in the hope it would spur them on."

Bolstered by her new lease of life, Kirsty is now taking over her slimming club, based at St John's United Reformed Church in Hallowell Road on Mondays.

She and David have also won first prize at many sailing regattas including Dartmouth, and came second at Cowes Week.

Kirsty added: "I am really hoping to encourage lots of other cancer sufferers to sign up to the slimming club.

"Being fitter and lighter has been a great confidence booster and my sailing crew, David and I are in training for the Edinburgh marathon. I am living proof it can be done."