YSANNE Seddon was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago, and after a mastectomy and reconstruction operation, she chose to swap life on the supermarket check-out to care for patients herself.

Ysanne is qualified in clinical aromatherapy and massage in cancer care and patients can reap the benefits of her healing hands at free sessions at the Postgraduate Centre, Warrington Hospital, on October 30.

After setting up a successful home treatment and mobile service just three weeks ago, Ysanne has been taken on board by the breast cancer screening unit at Warrington Hospital as a complimentary therapist.

She works to a protocol which is signed by a consultant and all patients have a treatment plan which is signed and approved before the therapy sessions begin.

Aromatherapy and massage can help to alleviate the side effects of cancer treatment, and improve people's quality of life.

Ysanne points out that massage with certain oils can stimulate hair growth and treat radiation burns, as well as relieve nausea and constipation, and numerous other side effects.

She works with the Breast Cancer Support Group and a local self help group, and already has a client base in Halton which she is keen to expand.

Ysanne believes it was her own personal experience which gave her a different purpose to life, and she wants others to benefit from this.

She said: "Before I got cancer, I was working on the tills at Morrisons and, after all my treatment, I realised I couldn't go back to that.

"I needed to do something different and something positive to get people through what I'd been through. I think the fact that I've been there myself is a comfort to patients because I can understand what they're going through."

Ysanne runs a mobile service and has a treatment room at home in Appleton. The free sessions at Warrington Hospital start on October 30 from 11am until 4pm. Appointments can be made with Ysanne on 01925 262580.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.