A mother-of-two who has been diagnosed with "incurable" breast cancer is preparing to run the London Marathon next month.

Caroline Frith, of South Woodford, said she refuses to let cancer prevent her from running, which she "absolutely loves".

Caroline was diagnosed in 2014 with primary breast cancer, for which she has undergone surgery, chemotherapy and hormone treatment for seven years.

She said the cancer returned last year at stage four which means it has spread to her bones and brain and is incurable, though treatable.

Ilford Recorder: Caroline said during her recent treatments, she had continued to do running trainingCaroline said during her recent treatments, she had continued to do running training (Image: Caroline Frith)

The runner said: "At the time it was absolutely devastating – I was basically told that I have incurable cancer and that, according to statistics, in a few years I’m going to die from it.

"At the moment, if you met me on the street, if you saw me out running, you would never know that there is anything wrong with me which is perhaps confusing - but I am seriously ill with a horrible disease.

"As time goes on, it’s funny what quickly becomes normal.

"I can’t spend my life crying every day so you sort of accept it and move on.

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"Obviously I’m trying to do everything in my power to beat the statistics and be around longer than they say I’m going to be but ultimately it's completely out of my control.

"That’s something else that’s quite hard to accept - that it’s something that I cannot control at all.

"But in the meantime, I’m still living my life, doing all the things that I enjoy doing, trying to spend as much time with my family as possible."

Ilford Recorder: Caroline said she had recently received a treatment called cyberknife radiotherapyCaroline said she had recently received a treatment called cyberknife radiotherapy (Image: Caroline Frith)

Caroline will be running the marathon on April 23 and has launched a fundraiser to support Maggie’s Cancer Centre at St Bartholomew's Hospital.

She continued: "Running has always been part of my adult life so I refuse to let cancer stop me doing something that I absolutely love doing.

"I kept active throughout treatment this time and I think that has really helped, both with my mental health and reducing the side effects from the treatment.

"A lot of my social life is involved with running, both in the running club and park run… so if I wasn’t running I would be missing out on all of that as well.

"I refuse to stay at home, lie in bed and feel sorry for myself."

Ilford Recorder: Caroline said she also runs other distances, including the 5km Park RunCaroline said she also runs other distances, including the 5km Park Run (Image: Caroline Frith)

Maggie’s Cancer Centre in St Bartholomew's Hospital provides a space for cancer patients away from the hospital setting.

Caroline said the centre offers classes, including yoga and tai chi, psychological support, nutritional advice and advice on benefits.

She has raised almost £8,000 and hopes to raise at least £10,000 before the marathon next month.

She added: "Every time I’m in Bart’s, which is probably every week or two, I go in there afterwards and the people know me.

"It’s such a nice environment, my husband and my kids have been in there and they provide support to the whole family – the more money I can raise the happier I’ll be."