A SINGER fighting cancer has penned some verses to help other women suffering from the disease.

Joyce Shaw, of Consett, County Durham, is well known in the area as a soprano and has used her voice to raise thousands of pounds for breast cancer charities.

Despite her illness, she has not only carried on teaching music at Greencroft School, Annfield Plain, near Stanley, but has become an author and poet.

The resulting poems and short stories have been published in a volume called Waiting on You.

"I call them everyday experiences," said the 57-year-old, of Romany Drive, admitting that it had been a struggle at times to balance her hectic schedule with battling her condition.

"There have been times when I have collapsed at work and they have sent me home," she said. "But there are black days when I don't feel like doing anything - I'm not a saint. I had my last operation last year and am hoping to be in remission by December."

She has also released two compact discs - Hanging On To Love and Only Love. "One is secular and one is sacred music," she said.

"I have already had orders from the US and they haven't even heard it yet."

Waiting on You is available from Consett Library and The Little Gift Shop, in Consett.