A son and his ‘miracle Mum’ who overcame cancer twice have come together to raise awareness and help others fight the disease.

Simon Poole, 41, from Loughton, helped his mother Linda recover after a tumour was found in her chest wall close to her heart in 1996.

It was the second time Ms Poole beat the disease, having undergone a pioneering treatment for bone cancer in her leg when she was only six-years-old.

She said: “When I met one of the consultants by chance years later he said, ‘I remember that leg.’

“He pointed at the scar and said, ‘You were our miracle.’

“I was the first, or one of the first, to have that treatment.”

Years after the treatment, which is mentioned in medical textbooks, Ms Poole was once again diagnosed with cancer.

After fighting to regain the use of her legs over many years and following concerns she would never have children, she said she was ready for the worst.

“When I touched it the pain was excruciating as if someone was stabbing me, I remembered that pain from when I was six, it was horrendous…

“After the op they said - Linda you’ve done it again, you are absolutely fine.”

Mr Poole helped his mother after the treatment.

He said: “I did not realise how serious my mum’s condition was until I saw her in hospital and then it really hit home.

“It took over a year for her to recover, she went from having loads of energy to not being able to get out of bed, it was awful to see.”

Ms Poole, aged 63, added: “We are very close, me and Simon.

“We spend a lot of time together and he means the world to me.

“It was very hard going through treatment but Simon was there for me.

“My son, my late father and some good friends helped me get through it.”

After their experiences, the pair are now backing Cancer Research and Channel 4’s Stand Up To Cancer campaign, which aims to raise money for research which could lead to new and better treatments.

They are calling on others to fundraise for the campaign by being sponsored for a range of events.

For more information, visit www.standuptocancer.org.uk.