Geeta Patel, an estate agent and a brave cancer patient, has decided to share her story with a series of inspirational films created for Channel 4, in an attempt to help others stand up to the devastating illness. See film below. 

At just 25-years-old, Patel was diagnosed with sarcoma, a cancer of the soft tissue, but despite treatment she was later told that the disease had spread to her lungs and was now deemed incurable.

Now at 27, Patel is opening up about her experience in a bid to help others.

Patel, who has temporarily given up work as an estate agent, has decided to share her story as part of a set of inspirational films in which she encourages people to Stand Up To Cancer.

Patel, currently receiving immunotherapy treatment, which is working to stabilise her cancer, spoke on camera about her experiences.

She said: “The hope for the future is that I live as long and healthily as I can and have my dream come true of having children.

“I will be ok if new drugs are coming out that could keep me alive. Even if it’s two or three years, I’d be grateful. It’d just give me hope and that’s what every cancer patient wants to hear: they’ve got hope for the future.”

In the video, Patel talks about the heartbreak of sharing her diagnosis with her family and her doubts that she will be able to have children.

She added: “Obviously, at 27, I thought my house would be full of children and that I would be cooking and cleaning for my husband, my kids, waking up, taking them to school. It’s the fact I don’t know if that will ever be in my future.

“I want to raise more awareness and money for new drugs. I just feel like I was so young, I didn’t have any knowledge about anything like this. I want to make people aware it can happen at any age.”

Treatment like Patel’s would not be possible without research. Since being accepted onto a trial for an immunotherapy drug, she travels to The Royal Marsden in London every six weeks to check if the cancer is still responding to treatment.

She continued: “There are side effects – my feet and hands hurt and I can’t keep food down but it has made a big difference. I’m so grateful for the treatment I’m receiving.

“Cancer has had a huge impact on my life, my old life has changed and I have to live a new life. I have had to look for new hobbies but sometimes I am too tired to do those.

“But now I stand up to it in my own way by helping to raise vital awareness and funds. My experience has helped me appreciate how crucial research is, so I’m determined to help more people survive.

“I hope my story will inspire people in the North East to get involved. Now is the time to Stand Up To Cancer.”