A woman from Huntingdonshire is urging the next Government to do more to save the lives of those with cancer after her sister's death at the age of 18.
Emma Bray, 27, from Papworth Everard, has shared the emotional experience of watching her teenage sister, Ellie, receive a cancer diagnosis and die just after her 18th birthday.
When Ellie was 16 and preparing to take her GCSEs, she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. The family were devastated.
Emma said: "Ellie was the healthy one in the family and she never got ill.
"She began to feel unwell with a sore throat and an ear infection. We were backwards and forwards to the doctors and Ellie had numerous blood tests before one night we received a call from Addenbrooke's Hospital, in Cambridge, her to go straight to A&E.
It was there that Ellie was diagnosed with the aggressive blood cancer that requires immediate treatment. She began intensive chemotherapy straight away.
Ellie was told the day before her 17th birthday that she was in remission.
Emma recalled: "Ellie threw herself into life, she got a puppy, went back to work, went out with friends again, went on holidays and climbed Mount Snowdon.
"We were scared she would relapse the whole time, and we always knew there was a 50 per cent chance it would come back, but we hoped she'd be in the other 50 per cent group."
Sadly, Ellie's cancer returned and her health deteriorated rapidly. Emma said that the family stayed positive, but doctors told them to "prepare for the worst".
Speaking about Ellie's final days, Emma said: "Her final days were spent mostly at home, she had friends visiting and we went to the beach, which was her favourite thing to do.
"But it was on the ward where she had been for two years that she ended up. We stayed with her, we watched Love Island, and we ate meals together but one morning she was breathless and said she didn't want to do this anymore.
"We said, 'you don't have to', and within a second, she had gone. She had fought this disease for two years and finally had enough."
Ellie died at the age of 18.
Ellie "never wanted to let go" of the life that she wanted so desperately. Her dream was to get married and become a mum - Emma said that it breaks her family's hearts that Ellie won't get to do this.
Emma has now created a short film, with an appearance from the late Dame Deborah James, to celebrate Ellie's life. It features home videos of her sister.
As the General Election fast approaches, Emma has decided to take her campaigning to the next level.
She's calling on East of England residents to email their local candidates to commit and act on transforming cancer survival. Her mission is to get cancer at the forefront of every MPs mind.
Emma said: "So many people's lives are touched by this devastating disease and the numbers are only growing.
"That is why we must make sure cancer is at the forefront of the minds of all future MPs. I'm determined to do everything that I can to campaign and help spare others from unnecessary heartache."
She added: "With so many challenges and funding issues surrounding cancer research and care, it's vital that saving lives comes before politics. When you hear those terrible words, "It's cancer", all you want to know is you - or your loved one - have the best possible chance of survival.
"Whoever wins the General Election, the next UK Government must help make this a reality for cancer patients everywhere."
To email your local candidates about their commitment to saving lives from cancer, click here.
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