FACED with the agonising decision of having a full hysterectomy or gambling against the 60 per cent chance of contracting ovarian cancer, Lisa Eden's mind was made up.

The 36-year-old was told she ran a high risk of getting ovarian and bowel cancer after she tested positive for a hereditary gene. Her great grandfather died from bowel cancer, while her grandfather survived the disease. Her mum Evelyn has twice been treated for it.

Evelyn, aged 58, has made a full recovery but when she tested positively as a carrier, Lisa and sister Michelle were also tested.

Michelle's test was negative but Lisa's was positive and after careful consideration Lisa opted for the hysterectomy and is now checked every two years for bowel cancer.

Mum-of-one Lisa, who is married to Mike, said: "We'd had three months of counselling before we had the test to prepare us for what our options were if it was positive. I tried to look on the bright side but I think deep down I knew I would have the gene. As soon as I was told the news I knew I wanted a hysterectomy. I wanted the peace of mind that it would give me. I wanted to be around to watch my five-year-old daughter Emily grow up and I wanted to grow old with my husband."

Because Lisa is a carrier of the syndrome, there is a 50 per cent chance that Emily will have the gene too.

l In recognition of Lisa's bravery, her brother-in-law Dave Mutch and his 10-year-old son Joshua took part in Sunday's Run for Moore 5km race at Aintree racecourse at 3pm. Proceeds will go towards the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK which funds research into bowel cancer.