A CROSS Keys woman has graduated from university after delaying it for a year while she battled cancer.

Sian Chung, 34, graduated from the Open University earlier this month at a ceremony in Cardiff.

With just two weeks before Mrs Chung was due to complete her studies, she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.

The mother-of-two was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma in March last year and underwent surgery.

But a second tumour was later discovered and she started chemotherapy in November.

But Mrs Chung was determined to complete her studies in children's literature and was able to complete the module in January.

She said: "The sense of achievement in attaining my degree is wonderful and I am enormously proud of this."

She puts a large part of this down to the support from her family.

"I am extraordinarily grateful to the Open University in allowing a stay-at-home mum to achieve a life-long ambition against the odds.

I am testament to the fact that a cancer diagnosis is a challenge to overcome and does not have to put one's life on hold.

The sense of victory is all the more sweet because of this."

Rob Humphreys, director of the Open University in Wales, said: "Sian's story is an inspiration and is a great example of how the discipline and enjoyment of learning can help overcome the challenges we all face in our lives."