SA TEENAGER battling cancer who had to spend her 16th birthday in hospital has now come out of isolation.

The news means she can go out with her friends and will return to school next January.

The Little Lever High School pupil underwent a bone marrow transplant at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital at Pendlebury in May, but has had to remain in isolation for the past six months to make sure she did not come into contact with anyone or anything which could cause infection.

Laura, of Goodwood Close, Little Lever, was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma in December, 2000.

She underwent a gruelling nine-month session of chemotherapy before being told the cancer had gone into remission last August.

However, just two months later, Laura and her parents, Jackie and John, were devastated at the news the illness had returned, having spread from her chest to the bone marrow.

Laura, who is a loyal Bolton Wanderers fan, had to spend her birthday in hospital as part of a month long stay after an ulcer burst in her stomach.

But she has made such good progress that she has recently allowed her favourite fast food treat for the first time all year and is now looking forward to a belated birthday party at home.

She said: "Being in hospital on my birthday wasn't too bad because some of my friends were allowed to come and see me, but I felt so poorly that I wanted to sleep most of the time anyway.

"I'm really pleased to be out of isolation and to finally be eating again!"

Her mother Jackie said: "It's a big relief that Laura has put on some weight and is looking so much brighter, but she will still need go to hospital twice a week for the next year."