Mum-of-2's plea as 'aggressive' cancer returns

Friends and family rallying round after barrister diagnosed with disease again

- Thomas Cooper

LOVED-ONES are rallying around a mum-of-two battling a life-threatening breast cancer relapse.

Kelly Hill, also known as Kelly Cyples through her work as a barrister at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, received the news in September.

The 41-year-old’s original diagnosis was made at the Royal Stoke University Hospital in February 2024 after she discovered an ‘unusual bump’ while showering. After a precautionary trip to the doctors she was told the small tumour had already spread to her lymph nodes.

Kelly said: "I did about 21 weeks of different kinds of chemotherapy. Then I had a bit of radiotherapy. And, in December last year, I got to ring the all-clear bell. I thought I was all good.

"They told me that I’m cancer free and that they'd managed to get everything out. I was placed on preventive treatment and it seemed like that was that. This year, I went back to work to try to recoup some of the earnings I'd missed out on last year after having all that time off.

"I was trying my hardest to get back our security. Then I didn’t feel very well in September. I had severe lower back pain, exhaustion and a persistent cough.