A TEENAGER who is fighting cancer for the third time is to undergo a bone marrow transplant today.

Maisie Bulmer, from Salton, was admitted to St James's Hospital in Leeds last week for six days of intense chemotherapy before she receives the bone marrow.

In October, the 18-year-old suffered a set back after three possible donor were found to be unsuitable only days before a planned transplant.

However, a donor, a 38-year-old German man, has since been found.

Maisie said: "I have been having chemotherapy every day and on Monday I received the highest dose which will completely wipe out my bone marrow and stem cells," she added.

"I am starting to feel the effects by hopefully everything will go ok and for now my aim is to be out of hospital for Christmas Day, even if it is just for the day."

Maisie was diagnosed with cancer in May 2014, aged 16, when she found a walnut-sized lump in her neck. After a biopsy at York Hospital she was told she was suffering from B-Cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. She finished chemotherapy that October, but was told on Christmas Eve 2014 that the cancer had returned and faced further gruelling treatment. In April this year, she was told the cancer had come back.

Despite her illness, Maisie and her family have raised more than £30,000 for cancer charities and she has completed a B-Tech course at Bishop Burton College a year early, also being named sports student of the year.

Maisie was due to start a degree in sports coaching at the college last month, but was forced to defer for a year due to her illness.

Her mum, Wendy, said they were relieved to get the call that a donor was available.

"We were devastated when the consultant told us all three possible donors had failed a medical test, but thankfully one has now been found that is suitable.

"Maisie has had a difficult few days and she had been quite poorly and sleeping a lot," she added.

"We are here doing what we have to do. It is very difficult and we will also be glad when it is over. Our hope now is that the transplant works and it does the trick and that Maisie can be home for Christmas."

For further details about becoming a bone marrow donor and to register visit anthonynolan.org/apply-join-bone-marrow-register (for people aged 16 to 30) and dkms.org.uk/en/register-now for people aged 17 to 55.