Tributes have been paid to a student teacher who died of cancer months after finding a lump on her shoulder. Jenna Patel, 21, became concerned after noticing the lump while carrying out work experience at a primary school.
However, when she first visited a doctor, she was told it was 'nothing to worry about'. After the lump started to grow, Jenna, from Bolton, was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma - a rare cancer which can cause tumours in the bones or surrounding soft-tissues.
Following a courageous battle, she died on May 13. She was due to graduate this month.
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Paying tribute to Jenna, her younger brother Liam described her as 'bubbly' and said she was 'always smiling'. "Jenna was always making sure everyone else was alright before herself," he added.
"There was not a time of the day when she was not smiling. We were really close and did everything together."
Liam, 17, said his sister had dreamed of becoming a teacher from the age of eight. After completing her studies at Turton High School, Jenna began a teaching degree at Edge Hill University.
But while in her second year of training, she noticed a lump at the top of her shoulder. "She came home one day and called me over," Liam explained.
"She said I have a little lump on my shoulder, and I told her it does not look go bad but to get it checked out. She went to the doctor and they said 'it's nothing to worry about, we think it's a cyst'.
"It carried on growing so she went back. After a few more tests, we found out it was something worse."
Jenna was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma in July of last year. The devastating news came just months after Jenna and Liam's dad Manish went into remission following a battle with brain cancer.
While loved ones feared the worst, Liam said Jenna maintained a positive outlook. "She just wanted to crack on and get it sorted," he explained.
"That was just Jenna. All she wanted to do was make sure everyone around her was happy."
Following her diagnosis, Jenna received chemotherapy and took part in a clinical trial, however, the treatment eventually stopped working and the cancer spread to her lungs.
Just two weeks before her death, doctors informed Jenna and her loved ones that there was nothing more they could do.
"It was horrible," Liam recalled. "Even though she had been told that, she was still smiling. One thing I have always been inspired by was her mentality."
Jenna's family are determined to continue her memory by raising awareness of Ewing sarcoma. A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise funds to support Ewing's Sarcoma Research Trust, which supports families and funds research into the disease. So far, almost £6,000 has been donated - more than six times the initial target.
"It's nice to see how many people cared about her," said Liam. "She had so many great friends and they have all been helping out with the fundraiser. It's been hard but it's nice to talk about all the memories we have of Jenna."
Jenna's funeral takes place at 10am on Saturday (May 28) at Overdale Crematorium, West Chapel, Overdale Drive. You can donate to the fundraising appeal here.
