A 47-year-old mum who had an infected toe that wouldn't heal was later given a life-changing diagnosis. Donna Bointon, from Easterside in , had a long-term infection on her big toe after problems began in 2019, and had been having GP appointments for treatment.

Speaking to last year, Donna explained: "I had a poorly toe for five years and was backwards and forwards to the GP. Finally they sent me to the hospital to get the side of it taken off and they discovered an acral melanoma". Acral melanoma is a "rare subtype of melanoma that forms on the palms, soles of feet, or under finger or toe nails", as per the . Donna said she "didn't expect it to be cancer at all I'd had this infected toe nail for a long time". "I was on antibiotics, using different creams and it wasn't clearing up," she continued. "Over the five years it had been growing so it was quite a deep melanoma."

Donna, who works at James Cook University Hospital as a domestic housekeeper, had to have her toe amputated and underwent months of immunotherapy, but tragically was told by medics that it can't be cured.

In her interview published this week, the mother-of-two revealed the awful news that the cancer had spread to other parts of her body and she had been given a life expectancy of just 12 months.

"I had the toe amputated in February 2024, and I had a year of treatment," she said.

"They found the cancer in my lymph nodes but they thought they would be able to treat it. I was offered 13 months of treatment but after 10 months, at my recent scan in February, the outcome was it had spread to three areas - my stomach, breast and lungs," she told the outlet.

"I asked my prognosis - she seems to think 12 months. It's spreading aggressively," added Donna. "I'm positive. She doesn't know my body. She doesn't know how positive I can be.

"I'm thinking I've got a year before I take poorly. I want to be making memories with my kids and my partner," she continued, adding that the community in Easterside "has really pulled together for us".

Donna said at the moment there is no treatment other than the potential of clinical trials, which there could be long waiting lists for.

"I'm only 47, it's horrific. I don't want to leave my family, I don't want to die," she said. "There has to be some sort of acceptance that it's going to happen.

Donna revealed her mum, Pat, had already lost her 39-year-old daughter, Tracey, to cancer 15 years ago. Tracey left behind two children, Simone and Dean.

She says she wants to spend time with the people she loves and enjoy herself "as much as I can", and continue working.

"I feel rushed, I'm trying to do everything," Donna said. "We've got something planned pretty much every month. I want to be keeping busy.

"I did not ever think that little infection on my toe would end up killing me. I didn't think for a second. I want to raise awareness, don't be afraid to tell doctors your concerns."

Donna and the family are hoping to go on a cruise to around Greece and Turkey later this year. Last year her sons Frankie, 25, and Charlie, 18, partner Craig and his son Lloyd did a walk with friends and family to fundraise for Cancer Research UK, raising £2,655 for the charity.

They'll be embarking on another walk from Cleveland Way from Saltburn to Whitby at the end of the month to "raise money to try and make some memories together".

The launched by Frankie has already raised more than £1,000.