Sonia Woolven doesn't let the grass grow under her feet. If she has a problem, she takes the bull by the horns and finds out what she needs to do in order to resolve it.

And the Cotswolds grandmother believes she owes her life to this positive approach.

Mrs Woolven, aged 66 who lives in Willersey, was diagnosed with colon and rectal cancer in 1978. She was living in Ohio, USA, at the time and in the space of two weeks she had been admitted to hospital for a colostomy operation, had discharged herself and gone to New York for a second opinion, and then returned for the operation.

"If I had been the sort of person who sits around waiting for things to happen I think I would have died before I had the cancer sorted out. I know so many people who have died of cancer. People who are proactive have a better chance with cancer," she said.

As part of her treatment she had a second operation the following year when some of the lymph nodes in her groin were removed.

"It was very controversial at the time but I was fine. We moved to New York and I went to work wearing suits and shoes with heels. My leg was fine," she said.

It was only 18 years after the operation, after moving back to the UK, and when she was retiring from her managerial job in a City bank, that lymphoedema revealed itself.

"My leg swelled terribly and never went down. I went to the doctor because I was terribly ill and my leg was so large," said Mrs Woolven.

Lymphoedema can occur after cancer treatment when the lymphatic system does not function properly. Lymphatic fluid builds up, resulting in a swelling in the affected limb.

"It is more of a nuisance than a disaster and I do not have pain with it although I think some people probably do."

But it does mean that Mrs Woolven no longer wears skirts and has difficulty getting shoes and tights to fit.

If left untreated, lymphoedema can result in a very heavy limb and lead to a skin disease called elephantiasis.

"I asked the doctor if there was anything I could do for the leg and was told there was nothing I could do for it," she said.

But Mrs Woolven did not give up and, while she continued her search for information and help, she discovered that one of the nurses at St Richard's Hospice in Worcester knew about the condition.

"She came out and had a look at my leg. I had massage and stockings that would help. After she had been out a few times, I felt embarrassed. I could not pay her so I asked what I could do for the hospice," she said.

Mrs Woolven, who has travelled as far as Oxford and then Cheltenham to get treatment because there was no local clinic, became involved in fund-raising for the hospice and is now delighted that St Richard's launched the first full-time lymphoedema clinic in Worcestershire on October 22.

"I am very pleased that Worcester finally has its own clinic. There are many people like me who had to travel long distances to get any kind of treatment before, but now they can be cared for on own their own doorstep."

Nina Linnitt, lymphoedema clinical nurse specialist, whose post is being funded for the first three years by Macmillan Cancer Relief, said: "This clinic will be a massive benefit not only for some of the patients of St Richard's Hospice, but also many others who badly need this treatment. Here at the clinic we will be able to offer support, advice, education and treatment to our patients."

The new clinic is a partnership between St Richard's Hospice, South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust and Macmillan Cancer Relief.

Mrs Woolven, now a St Richard's governor who oversees all the fund-raising volunteer groups, added: "I am passionate about the hospice. I think it is a really worthwhile organisation. I attend meetings there and I always feel better when I come out than when I went in. I really like the professional staff and the volunteers there."

Her advice to anyone who is diagnosed with lymphoedema or who suspects they may have it is to get all the help that is available.

"If you have a swollen limb go along to your GP and ask to be referred to the lymphoedema clinic at St Richard's."

Anyone interested in helping to raise funds for St Richard's should contact the hospice on 01905 763963.