Meet the woman who continues to kick cancer's butt, even though she was told she'd die years ago. Hope Pearce, 34, from Essex, was just 23 when she first started feeling unwell, but it took her a while to discover she actually had cancer.

Back in 2014, she started having headaches, which is something that went on for about two or three months. At first, she was told it was likely to be migraines but, deep down, she knew something wasn't right with her health. After pleading for more tests, she was eventually sent for an MRI scan, which revealed there was a tumour in her neck, towards the base of her skull.

It marked the beginning of a long journey for Hope, as she could have never imagined what the next decade would be like. For more than 10 years, she's been working hard to battle the dreaded disease, and she documents her journey on her website.

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Recalling the time they found the tumour, Hope said: "He said it was very deep into the neck. They initially thought it was benign, but it turned out it was a rare form of sarcoma. I had chemotherapy and radiotherapy."

Sarcoma is a rare cancer of the body's supporting tissues. It's often characterised by uncontrolled cell growth forming tumours, often presenting as a deep, growing lump. It usually requires specialist care for diagnosis and treatment.

At first, the treatment seemed to work, as Hope was later put in remission until 2017 to 2018. However, she was then told the cancer had spread to her lungs and it was stage 4.

"I was told it was palliative then," she said. "I [was told I] had 20 months to live. For some reason, I had a feeling something could be done, so I tried something else. I overhauled my lifestyle. I did that for three months and I went back, and the tumour had shrunk."

Hope didn't want to give up. In fact, the diagnosis seemed to light a fire within her, and she was determined to fight back. From here, she took on the biggest battle of her life and threw herself into endless research in a bid to try and lengthen her life.

She now believes a few things have helped to keep her alive. For one, she thinks her new and improved diet has made a big difference. She focuses on eating foods that boost her immune system, and ensures she's hydrated properly.

As well as this, she stays active in a bid to reduce stress and boost her fitness. Hope thinks this is very important, and it helps her to keep her mind clear - something she also thinks plays a part in keeping herself so positive.

"It's changed my life," Hope explained. "It's changed my life so much. We are living in such a toxic world, and it's not something that just affects me, but everyone.

"My sister, who has two young children, has completely changed how she is raising them. It's not just cancer. It's obesity, type 2 diabetes, autoimmune diseases. It's all linked to our lifestyles. It changes everything. At the moment, I've been stable for two years because it's shrinking or staying the same."

Even though Hope's story is a positive one, she admits some doctors have questioned it. She said their reactions to her theory can "vary", and some can be a lot more interested than others, but she now follows an integrative path.

While some may say no diet can lead to prolonging someone's life, or curing cancer, Hope claims there is some evidence to back up her story. For example, one study has demonstrated how vitamin C has the potential to be "a potent anti-cancer agent when administered intravenously and in high doses".

As well as this, scientists have also examined how eating certain vegetables can help to prevent the disease. It's been shown that sulforaphane, a natural compound found in high concentrations in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, has the potential to both treat and prevent certain cancers.

It shouldn't be used as a stand alone treatment, but people have openly spoken about the potential benefits. Whatever the reason for her success in recent years, Hope is just glad to still be alive.

She added: "I'm very realistic. I have a thing that can kill me, but I know what I have overcome. It taught me how quickly life can change. I've met many people along this journey who didn't make it, and died far too young. It really has changed my life."

Hope now documents her journey on Instagram and TikTok, where she has thousands of followers. You'll find her under the username @hopethelifestyle.

If you have any concerns about cancer, or your health, speak with your GP. More information can be found at the NHS website.