A YOUNG Poole woman who was diagnosed with cancer just months after undergoing a liver transplant has thanked a local charity for stopping her family spiralling into debt.

Sophie Houghton-Hinks, 20, was told she had post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder – a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma - five months after her transplant.

During the next six months in hospital, Sophie’s single mum Julie lost her job and faced mortgage arrears, but Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF) stepped-in to help pay the bills.

Now Sophie and her mum are urging people to help DCCF support more local families by donating £5 to its High Five campaign.

Sophie was just 16 when she was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, an autoimmune disease which can lead to liver damage and scarring, or cirrhosis. Within 18 months she suffered liver failure and underwent a transplant.

Just five months later, she received the news she had post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder – a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma caused by the transplant procedure.

Sophie had six months of chemotherapy, but severe side effects meant she was an in-patient throughout and was admitted to intensive care twice.

Julie said: “The costs started racking-up immediately. I had had to give up my job as a dental receptionist to be with Sophie. I had no income and I had already had three weeks off work unpaid during the liver transplant.”

A friend of Julie's contacted the DCCF, which was set up in Poole five years ago to help local cancer patients afford hospital transport, specialist equipment and household bills. The charity covered Julie's mortgage payments for a few months.

Sophie left hospital in April but, despite being in remission, has ongoing health issues including auto immune neutropenia, which makes her especially susceptible to infection. She also has four-weekly hospital appointments in London.

Sophie said: "Our problems aren’t going to go away, but we are hoping our story will highlight the financial pressures cancer can cause and might encourage people to give to DCCF’s 'high five' appeal so they can help even more local families which are struggling.”

To donate £5, text: DCCF00 £5 to 70070, or donate online at dccf.co.uk