AN artist has put together an exhibition of work to depict the highs and lows of life after a tumour was unexpectedly discovered in her oesophagus.

Regular concert goer and amateur artist Ann Wood, who lives in Lymm, attended the Neighbourhood Weekender festival in Victoria Park over the bank holiday weekend for the second time.

But this year was an experience which was incredibly different to the year before when she was undergoing cancer treatment.

The 51-year-old is now back to regularly attending festivals and has since put together an art exhibition in Warrington exploring her time in treatment.

In the summer prior to diagnosis, Ann climbed Scafell Pike and had followed a healthy lifestyle for many years.

She was not regarded as being at risk of oesophageal cancer but had a relative who had been treated for the disease.

Towards the end of 2017, she quickly developed severe heart burn, a lingering sore throat and a scratchy pain in the chest after several weights classes.

Thinking she had overdone the exercise, she consulted her GP and pushed for a gastroscopy which discovered an early tumour in her oesophagus, meaning some of her summer plans were put on hold.

Ann explained: "I got tickets to the whole Neighbourhood Weekender but then my operation actually fell the weekend before.

"Then I got flu so I couldn't have it.

"I went to the first day of the festival but because it was exhausting I skipped the Sunday to conserve my energy for the operation."

Ann only started to draw after her diagnosis and her exhibition is taking place exactly one year since she underwent life-changing surgery to remove half of her oesophagus and a third of her stomach.

She said: "It was a big shock because I am not the right age and I'm a completely different demographic.

"I was going to try and journal but I started to draw in it.

"My husband bought me a colouring book because you are there for hours having chemotherapy.

"So, I thought why not draw my own and colour them in.

"I have got lots out of it."

Each year about 30 Warrington residents are affected by oesophageal cancer and the chance of survival is poor, often due to late diagnosis.

Ann said: "It is a remarkably un-sexy disease and rarely gets an airing in the media because the oesophagus is hidden away and quite uninteresting.

"Also, people often think heartburn is normal and getting it investigated may be viewed as wasting a doctor’s time.

"It is always worth it as most people present too late and cannot be treated."

If you often have antacids in your weekly shop, problems swallowing or a family history of the disease, please see your GP to discuss a gastroscopy.

To see Ann’s drawings, the exhibition ‘The Art of Oesophageal Cancer’ is on display at the Taylor Gallery in The Old Fairfield School, Fairfield Street, until June 27.