WHEN Malmesbury schoolgirl Rosie Dicks was diagnosed with cancer she knew her appearance would drastically change after chemotherapy and that her illness would shock and upset her friends and classmates.

So brave Rosie, 14, of Luckington, near Chippenham, recorded a personal video message to fellow pupils explaining why she would be absent from school and warning them she was about to lose her hair.

Around 30 students from her tutor group 10RM watched in stunned silence as Rosie, who had recorded the message on her iPad in her bedroom, told them in a calm, collected manner of her impending fight against cancer.

Her four-minute speech prompted tears and concern among classmates at Malmesbury School, but also an immense sense of pride at their friend’s courage and fortitude.

The teenager, who has just completed a second round of gruelling chemotherapy treatment over the festive period, was “blown away” by the kindness shown to her by friends and strangers alike.

Rosie said she had got the idea of videoing her friends in a dream and had taken heart from the response she had to it.

She said: “You don’t realise how many people are there for you until something like this happens. It has really helped me knowing other people care”.

Rosie, who has also received a Little Star Award from Cancer Research UK which celebrates the courage of all children who confront cancer, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in October.

Rosie and her parents Ann and Marcus were initially concerned after she lost weight and began feeling increasingly tired. At first they thought she was anaemic but by the time she saw her GP the lymph glands in her neck had swollen up.

The results of the blood test showed an abnormality and her GP immediately referred Rosie to Bath Hospital. After being rushed here by her mum, she had a chest X-ray and other tests.

After further tests doctors allowed Rosie to go ‘trick or treating’ with friends for Halloween before returning to hospital in time for bed.

Mrs Dicks said: “Doctors at Bath told us from the start they had a pretty good idea what was wrong but it was still a huge shock when we were told Rosie had cancer.

“We thought she was anaemic or had glandular fever. We didn’t imagine anything else”.

Within days Rosie was transferred to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children where she spent two weeks while specialists investigated further.

An MRI scan had revealed lumps in her windpipe which concerned doctors, particularly when Rosie was lying down. Fluid on one side of her heart was also a worry.

She also had to undergo a biopsy, provide a bone marrow sample and have a line inserted intravenously into her arm, ready for the chemotherapy, procedures normally carried out under general anaesthetic.

Due to the lumps in her windpipe, anaesthetists feared it would unsafe and Rosie went through those tests during a three-hour operation under local anaesthetic.

The teenager started chemotherapy treatment on November 13 before being allowed home.

Complications including high temperatures have meant Rosie going back and forward to Bath over the Christmas period. She has just completed a second round of treatment and is waiting for scans results.

Severe pains in her legs and joints are a current worry which they hope will soon wear off.

Mrs Dicks said: “This is the worst she has felt. She has attended school quite regularly after the first two weeks when she was not able to get to school”.

Explaining Rosie’s decision to record a video, her mother added: “She didn’t want rumours circulating and wanted to put her friends straight herself about what was wrong and what was going to happen.

“She wanted them to treat her as normal. She told them she was having chemotherapy and was going to lose her hair. She was matter of fact about it.

“The school have been brilliant, doing everything they possibly can to help, and her friends have been a great support.

“She has been blown away by the kindness shown to her – including people in London she doesn’t even know from her dad’s work. It makes you realise how many lovely people there are in the world.”

Tim Gilson, the headteacher at Malmesbury School, said that everyone at the school was very proud of Rosie.

He said: “She has shown tremendous bravery and is a wonderful role model for us all.

“The video she made for her class mates was an extremely moving and impressive piece of work, and the fact that she was so concerned about her friends reinforces what a thoughtful young lady she is.”

NOMINATING her daughter for Cancer Research UK’s Little Star Award, Ann Dicks wrote: “Rosie has been very strong from the start.

“She cried when she was told what was wrong but since then she has been amazingly strong and brave.

“We are so proud of Rosie and her positive attitude. She has kept her sense of humour throughout”.

Cancer Research UK’s Wiltshire spokesperson Helen Johnstone said: “Rosie has shown huge courage in the way she has dealt with her diagnosis, not least of all how she resolved to tell her friends personally what she was facing.”

Among the stars supporting the charity are the captain of England football team Wayne Rooney who said: “As a parent myself, I find it almost impossible to imagine the impact of being told your child has been diagnosed with cancer.

“Over the years I have met lots of youngsters who are undergoing treatment for this horrible disease. Their courage, positivity and determination never fails to humble me, as does that of their parents and families.

“I am delighted at anything which my association with the Little Stars Awards may do to help them.”