BRAVE cancer sufferer Gemma Feeney is full of hope after returning home from a specialist treatment centre in Mexico.

The 27-year-old from Deane, who has tumours on her spine, was told there was nothing more doctors in this country could do to help her.

But the former gas fitter was determined to find a cure and paid almost £15,000 to travel to the Oasis of Hope Clinic in Mexico.

While she was being treated there, doctors claim to have found more tumours on her spine and Gemma is now waiting to see her consultant at the Christie Hospital in Manchester, to have these diagnosed.

Despite the news, Gemma is confident that the treatment, which included detoxification, vitamin therapy and chemotherapy had a positive effect.

She said: "I'm absolutely shattered, but I have rested and I do feel a lot stronger.

"I'm going to see my consultant and if he says he can help me in any other way, then that's what I'll do."

Gemma - who has a fighting fund of £98,000 which was raised by a charity appeal - was due to return to Mexico next month, but has been able to bring her treatment back from the clinic to the UK, so will be able to stay at home.

She was first diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2002 and underwent a seven-and-a-half hour operation, six weeks of radiotherapy and four weeks of chemotherapy. It looked as though she had managed to beat the cancer.

But in May last year, Gemma developed severe back pain and rare, inoperable tumours were found on her spine.

She started another course of chemotherapy and family and friends began a campaign to raise enough money to allow her to travel to America for cyberknife surgery. But Gemma's illness had become to advanced for the treatment to work.

Fundraising continues, with Gemma's friends Lorraine Hacking and Sarah Foster teaming up for a three-legged walk between Doffcocker and Rivington Pike.