THE emotional moment a Bradford teenager is about to have her first radiotherapy treatment is captured in a ground-breaking advert from Cancer Research UK.

Megan Carr, 16, features in the charity's new Right Now campaign which includes a 30 second television advert and digital and social media.

Viewers have been watching the Bradford College student being prepared for her radiotherapy session at the Leeds Cancer Centre, since the advert went on air after Christmas - and now the teenager has been given the all clear.

Megan, of Thornton Road, Thornton, is seen having a specially moulded mask placed over her face and shoulders before being lined up ready for the treatment.

In March last year, Megan noticed unusual lumps were appearing on both sides of her neck, which then started to get bigger. Her GP referred Megan for tests at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

After scans found more tumours under her skin she had surgery to remove lymph nodes.

While she was still in hospital, Megan and her family were given the devastating news that it was cancer - Hodgkin Lymphoma - which is the less common type of cancer of the lymphatic system.

As Megan was 15 at the time, the family decided on her being treated as a child so she was transferred to Leeds Children’s Hospital under the care of oncologists from The Leeds Cancer Centre.

Megan started six months of chemotherapy treatment, which finished in September. It made her long hair fall out which she found really hard.

This was then followed by 11 sessions of radiotherapy, and in the Cancer Research UK ad Megan is seen having her first one.

The nurses put on her specially moulded mask which was made to keep her perfectly still to make sure the radiotherapy targets precisely the same area each day.

All Megan’s treatment finished at the end of October and although the radiotherapy made her neck and throat sore, she felt she coped with everything really well. Results of scans taken last week show there are no signs of cancer.

Cancer Research UK’s Right Now campaign shows the reality of cancer for patients like Megan and for their friends and family. The powerful films - which show real patients in real-life moments - are a call for everyone to take action in the battle against cancer.

Filming took place during October and November last year at the Leeds Cancer Centre, Southampton General Hospital, the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute and St Bartholomew’s Hospital London.

Mum Karen Carr, 49, said: "It was a huge shock when Megan was diagnosed with cancer. I lost my dad to cancer but I never thought it was going to happen to one of my children. It was so difficult to break the news to her brother Ryan (29) and big sister Amy (28) and the rest of our family, who are very close. We didn’t know what the future would hold.

"I couldn’t break down because I knew I had to be strong for her. But Megan was so strong in herself, it helped the rest of us.

"When her hair started to fall out it was really hard, it knocked her confidence. But when her dad, Chris, offered to shave it all off, they started laughing and that broke the ice.

"We all laughed with her and then she said: 'I’ll be alright'.

"She’s now got this fabulous wig that has been styled to look just how she wanted. We even gave it a nick-name - Cyril the Squirrel - and her confidence came right back. She has some great friends who have helped her cope with all of this and she is now back at Bradford College enjoying her Level 2 Health and Social course.

"I feel extremely fortunate that Megan’s cancer was caught early but her experience means we understand all too clearly why Cancer Research UK’s work is so important.

"Megan said yes straight away when we were asked if she could be filmed having her radiotherapy for the Right Now campaign. She wanted to help other people, especially kids, understand what it is like to go through cancer treatment and how well looked after you are.

"When we first saw the film I was so proud of her, I was beaming with pride. It captured her really well and showed how brave she is. I don’t want people watching to feel sorry for her, I want them to be inspired by her and hopefully raise some money so that more people like her can beat this."

Megan added: "I’m so proud to be part of Cancer Research UK’s Right Now campaign. Cancer has been life changing for me in so many ways. I’m more thoughtful about other people, more supportive and more confident. It shows I can still be bright and bubbly even though I’m going through cancer. And that you can lose your hair, but you are still the same person.

"There are so many people, like me, waking up to the reality of cancer every day. Now I’m urging people across Bradford to take action right now to help fund vital research to help beat this devastating disease."

Kate Smith, Head of Nursing for the Oncology Clinical Service Unit at the Leeds Cancer Centre, said: "I am extremely proud that Leeds Cancer Centre was chosen to be at the forefront of the new Cancer Research UK campaign “Right Now”. The wide range of services that we provide and the high number of patients, like Megan, that we care for made us a natural choice."

"It made me feel really proud to see staff from our centre featuring so prominently. The films are powerful and I get quite emotional watching them. For me they really put into perspective the work we do here and the pride we take in delivering excellent care to patients and their families."

Nicki Embleton, Cancer Research UK spokeman for Yorkshire, said: "We’re so grateful to Megan and her family for their support.

"We’d also like to thank staff at the Leeds Cancer Centre for allowing us to show the reality of cancer - for patients battling the disease, and also the doctors, oncologists, nurses and support staff who are working tirelessly, every day, to help them."

  • For more information on how to help beat cancer sooner, visit www.cruk.org.