A BRAVE single mum who underwent cancer treatment that made her radioactive and unable to see her daughter is now on a selfless mission ‘to pay it forward.'

Cheryl Davies had to spend days alone in isolation because she had to take high doses of iodine as part of her treatment for thyroid cancer.

But to comfort her daughter she named her scar following two operations to remove her thyroid her ‘second smile’ – and from that moment she became adamant to spread more happiness to other cancer sufferers.

The 39-year-old from Christchurch, said: “I realised if everyone was a bit kinder and helped others, the world would be a slightly better place and rather than look at the scar as something negative, instead I wanted to turn my experience into something positive.”

Cheryl, an event planner, explained she only booked a GP appointment after her friend noticed a strange lump on her neck when she swallowed in spring 2015.

Within months medics discovered two cancerous tumours which pushed on her windpipe and caused problems swallowing leading to two operations to fully remove her thyroid and two rounds of treatment.

For her type of cancer, patients receive radioactive iodine treatment – a form of internal radiotherapy administered as a capsule.

Thyroid cancer cells pick up the iodine wherever they are in the body, and the radiation kills them. Other cells are left unaffected, because only thyroid cells take up the iodine.

However during the treatment, she had to stay in isolation until her radiation levels fell again.

She said: “You become dangerous to other humans. I know how difficult it can be for concerned family members when you go into isolation. Using the term ‘second smile’ to describe the scar left by my surgery I was able to explain the situation and reassure my young daughter Taylor but it was still heartbreaking having to be away from her for so long (and I ended up having to have the treatment twice!).

“Being suddenly alone was the most difficult part of my treatment and a huge contrast to the lively birthday party I had held just a week before for my young daughter. Separated from my family and without their close support I needed something to give me focus in order to avoid despair.”

Despite facing some of her darkest moments in isolation away from her daughter, Cheryl began making notes on how she could help others.

Now she has been told she is cancer free and has launched The Second Smile Project to raise awareness of her rare form of cancer and help others with the disease.

“It’s a project that aims to raise the awareness of thyroid cancer through random acts of kindness,” she explained.

Already she has returned to the Oncology ward of Poole Hospital to transform their garden, has delivered a vintage tea party to the Macmillan Caring Locally Unit in Christchurch Hospital and she hopes to be able to provide all thyroid cancer patients at Poole Hospital with a box of comforting treats when they go in for treatment.

To mark Thyroid Cancer Awareness month Cheryl is planning a lonely bouquet drop throughout Christchurch later this month.

She is also organising a Diamond and Ice charity ball at the Highcliff Marriott Hotel in Bournemouth on November 24 where star Gareth Gates will provide the evening’s entertainment.

The event will be the flagship fundraising event for Macmillan Caring Locally and will also help raise awareness and funds to help individuals diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

Cheryl added: “These days I am feeling well and other than rocking a good scar and taking my thyroid medication, life is pretty much back to normal.

“Now it is time to start helping others who are on a similar journey.”

For more information or tickets for the Diamond and Ice ball, go to diamondandice.co.uk

For information on thyroid cancer go to Butterfly Thyroid Cancer Trust at butterfly.org.uk