THE story of a Bolton woman who was treated for an aggressive form of cancer features in a major art installation in London.

Angela Kenney is one of 104 people with blood cancer, chosen from across the UK, to have their story told as part of the display.

In April 2013, shortly after marrying her husband Alan, the 45-year-old from Tonge Moor was bed-ridden for a week with flu-like symptoms and ended up in hospital where she was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukaemia.

It affects 170 people each year in the UK and she spent eight months in Salford Royal’s Haematology Unit receiving treatment that would save her life.

The mum-of-five said: "Once diagnosed, the chemotherapy began the following day. I remember lying in the bed, Alan next to me and us both crying when the nurse very gently told us what would happen as we knew a poison was being injected into my veins, but also know this was the best chance I had to beat this horrific disease.

"Until diagnosis, neither myself nor Alan realised that leukaemia and blood cancer attacked in such a wide variety of different ways. We knew about the word leukaemia but nothing else.

"We were newlyweds of two months when the disease struck and it ripped through the heart of our family. Alan was with me daily while also looking after my two youngest sons, Thomas and Dylan, as well as our 18-month-old daughter Alicia. Even through the dark days though, our love was strong and kept us going."

Mrs Kenney has become an ambassador for blood cancer research charity Bloodwise, which supported the family during her treatment.

Her name is now forming part of a large scale art installation in Paternoster Square, London to mark Blood Cancer Awareness Month.

The installation represents the 104 people who are diagnosed with blood cancer every day in the UK, raising public awareness and making their experiences visible by telling their individual stories.

Angela’s name, constructed in three dimensions at her exact height, with a summary of her blood cancer experience.

Pharmaceutical company Janssen commissioned artist Paul Cocksedge to create the installation, which is available for the public to visit until 30 September.

The installation, next to St Paul’s Cathedral, marks the launch of the Make Blood Cancer Visible campaign supported by Bloodwise and eight other blood cancer charities and patient support groups.