JUDY Brown says her hard work was worth it after she defied a cancer diagnosis to win two medals at the Masters European Aquatics Championships.

The 52-year-old, from Woolston, won silver in the 200m backstroke and bronze for the same stroke over 100m.

Her performance over the longer distance smashed a British record in the women’s 50-54 age group by a stunning four seconds.

Brown was diagnosed with breast cancer, from which she is now in remission, in October 2014.

She told the Guardian she hopes her story can inspire others.

“We shouldn’t think of cancer as being an immediate end; you can achieve things in spite of it,” she said.

“Even if my story helps just one or two people overcome serious illness, then it will have been worthwhile in my eyes “No-one knows what the future holds, but I hope to send a message that this can be done and people can come back from it.”

She underwent eight gruelling sessions of chemotherapy, as well as a double mastectomy and radiotherapy.

However she continued to train, admitting it helped her to cope with the symptoms.

“The first four sessions made me lose my hair and feel very sick,” she said.

“The next four gave me a high temperature.

“I swam three or four times a week, a mile each time, and it made me feel so much better, “I felt fit, and it gave me a sense of achievement.

“I was told to wait six weeks after my operation before swimming again, but the doctors cleared me to get back in the pool.

“So I tried to gain a bit more fitness before the radiotherapy started.

“I swam outdoors during that because chlorine is bad for the skin, but it was good to keep the swimming going.”

Brown then returned to indoor action at the Cheshire Masters’ Championships last September.

“My story got around and people came up to me to say it was good to see me back,” she said.

“That was really encouraging.

“The event itself was quite emotional and, while my speed wasn’t as it had been before, it was so good to compete again and be with my friends and fellow competitors from the swimming world.

“No-one laughed when I said I’d like to swim at the Europeans, but there was a pointed silence.”

She was ranked fifth in the continent going into the Europeans in London, but still doubted her chances of a medal at a venue used for the Olympics four years ago.

“I knew there were two women coming into my age group that were very fast,” she said.

“I knew I had to go well to scrape a medal, so I was just hoping for a good swim.

“To win one medal and get a British record is amazing, but to win two has made all the hard work I put in worthwhile.

“I’ve had so much support from family, friends, and fellow swimmers from Warrington Masters, Trafford Metro and Warrington Dolphins that I’m really grateful for.

“Also, thanks to LiveWire for the swimming facilities, coaching and cancer therapy course, and a massive thanks to my surgeon, oncologist and radiotherapist and all their marvellous staff at Warrington, Halton and Clatterbridge hospitals for their life-saving treatment.”