A TROWBRIDGE woman who spent five years battling stage four bowel cancer wants to raise awareness of her rare condition and raise funds for the doctors who saved her.

Emma Schiller, of Helmsley Road, was 23 when she was diagnosed with familial adenomatous polyposis in October 2012. The disease results in bumps growing on the inside of the large intestine, causing unbearable pain.

Despite having to endure nine months of chemotherapy, many operations and the removal of her large intestine, Ms Schiller always believed that she would not be beaten by the illness that was ravaging her body.

After being given the all-clear in late May, the 28-year-old is looking to raise awareness about the genetic condition and fundraise for Bowel Cancer UK and the Bristol Haematology and Oncology centre.

“I was lost for words when I got the all-clear. I dreamed about hearing those words but when it actually happened I was stunned,” said Ms Schiller, who moved to Trowbridge from Bristol to live with her partner Ian Wilkins in 2015.

“Being told at the age of 23 that I had a condition that around one in 100 people have and usually happens to people who are 70 or above, was just terrifying. I thought my life was coming to an end so soon.

“I was very down but what helped me was the amazing support of friends, family and the brilliant doctors at Bristol. I actually miss them in a funny way, as the hospital was my second home.”

Ms Schiller is now a passenger assistant for Wiltshire Council, where she takes children to Rowdeford School but she wants to do as much as she can to shine the spotlight on the rare condition.

“I want to raise awareness about this. Anyone who has intestinal struggles, experiences sudden weight loss or passing of blood mucus – you just have to see a doctor,” she said.

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/companyteams/emma-schiller.