IN APRIL 2011, Judy Prescott was told she would need a mastectomy and chemotherapy after being diagnosed with stage three breast cancer.

The initial 12-hour operation was followed with numerous additional spells under the surgeon's knife and the disease and subsequent treatments left her suffering with anxiety and depression.

Her experience caused Judy to sit down and write her autobiography, bringing to light many of the challenges faced by cancer sufferers to which the rest of us are completely oblivious.

“My aim is to raise awareness so people know what they’ve got ahead of them and how to cope with it,” Judy said.

Living for a Reason follows Judy’s road from diagnoses to treatment and recovery while she recalls memories from her childhood and through to adult life.

The book is about far more than just about her cancer journey, exploring her life journey, which, she explains, has been anything but straightforward.

“Encountering life’s problems and trying to deal with them when you don’t know whether you’re going to live through it can really mess your head up,” she said.

Originally from Bristol, Judy, now 59, moved to Cwmgors in 1988.

Writing has helped her cope with her cancer.

Her first book, Finding Harry, was the product of her attempting to remain positive while in recovery by tracing her ancestors and writing about her grandparents .

“Writing just keeps me focused and interested. I had no idea I could write; it’s the last thing I thought I could do,” she said.

Judy hopes her autobiography will help people see that coping with cancer is about more than simply dealing with the illness and the treatment.

“Cancer is losing your hair and feeling as though people are always looking at you and losing people from your life who can’t cope with seeing you that way,” she said.

Judy is currently finishing her third book - a novel - titled Dolly Daydream.

Judy is holding a book signing in WHSmith in Trostre, Llanelli, on April 23. Living for a Reason is available online now.