Yarm mum given weeks to live after cancer diagnosis

Mum-of-two Izzie Collins, 30, was delivered the devastating news that she had just months to live in September following a diagnosis of stage four cancer after her symptoms included having a "bad back".

Izzie Collins, 30. (Image: COLLINS FAMILY) Izzie, from Yarm, is now being cared for in Hartlepool's Alice House Hospice and a recent fundraiser has raised more than £8,000 for her to make memories with her girls Kaiya, 10 and Violet, one. 

The fundraiser, with a £10,000 target, was set up by Izzie's friends Nieve and Emily Woodhouse who wrote that she is an "incredible daughter, sister and friend". 

Following this outpouring of support from the community, Izzie told The Northern Echo that the love she and her girls have felt has been "overwhelming".

"Back in March was when I got my diagnosis but I had been unwell for a couple of months with back and rib pain. Everything just snowballed from there", Izzie said.

Izzie's diagnosis was for neuroendocrine - which are spinal tumours that release hormones into the blood stream.

Treatment followed for Izzie including chemotherapy, injections and more but she is now no longer receiving that.

Izzie Collins with friends. (Image: COLLINS FAMILY) She added: "The fundraiser was set up in the very beginning for financial support as I'd not long moved back to the area from Essex.

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"All the support has been really overwhelming. You never expect anything like this to happen. When they told me they were setting up the fundraiser I didn't really think much of it."

As to what Izzie has planned for the money, there are ideas of using the money for trips to the cinema and more "local" trips whilst Izzie receives hospice care.

To donate to the fundraiser, click here.