CANCER is a huge blow to any family – especially when two people are diagnosed within months of each other.

But John Armstrong and his daughter Tracy Edwards are fighting back – and their family is joining in too.

John, 74, from Lordshill, Southampton, was recently found to be suffering from prostate cancer, having successfully recovered from colon cancer twenty years ago.

His daughter Tracy, 45, who grew up in Southampton and now lives in Whiteparish, was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago.

She recovered, but in May last year doctors found Tracy had a more aggressive cancer which is life threatening.

Now three generations of the family – Tracy, her mum Doreen, 74, and youngest daughter Daisy, 4, are encouraging women to join the Pink Army on the frontline against the disease.

They hope other mums, daughters and sisters will swell the ranks by taking part in one of a range of Cancer Research UK Race for Life events this summer in Southampton.

John, who has nine grandchildren, had suffered six of eight of the symptoms of prostate cancer but he had dismissed them as just part of getting older.

By the time he was diagnosed the cancer had spread to his bones, stomach and some lymph nodes.

A variety of treatments – including chemotherapy and radiotherapy – are helping John to fight the disease.

A course of chemotherapy treatment at the end of last year was particularly challenging but John, a keen bowler, has recovered well enough to visit his old club and watch his favourite sport.

Just over a year ago Tracy started having back ache. A keen horsewoman, she blamed riding and doing too much work at her stable yard.

An x-ray and blood tests came back clear but when her back ache continued she insisted on a bone scan which confirmed her cancer had returned.

Ongoing treatment often leaves Tracy feeling very poorly but she remains determined to keep life as normal as possible for her family.

Tracy and her husband, Ky, have been touched by many kindnesses shown to Tracy in her home village and her whole family are determined to raise awareness.

Doreen said: “Tracy is one of the most determined people I know. Doctors said she could have only two or three years to live but she is determined to prove them wrong. If anyone can, she can.

“I am very proud of my daughter and my husband.

"They have put up with so much pain”.

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring women-only series of events which raises millions of pounds every year to help fund life-saving research.

Helen Johnstone, Cancer Research UK spokesperson for Hampshire, said: “I am very moved by Tracy and John’s story and heartened by their courage.

“One in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives.

“I hope women will join the Pink Army and help fund vital research which will help more people beat this devastating disease.”

To enter Race for Life today visit www.raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770.