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Emily Hayward fighting cancer to marry partner

Every marriage proposal is special, but when Emily Hayward popped the question to Aisha Hasan, it was particularly poignant.

Because after fighting cancer for seven years, Emily has just learned she may only have months to live.

It started as a mole on her leg which was later diagnosed as a malignant melanoma.

Emily Hayward, left, and Aisha Hasan celebrating their engagement
Emily Hayward, left, and Aisha Hasan celebrating their engagement

Now, after years battling the disease, she has been told by doctors that the cancer has spread to her hip and brain and her time is limited.

Following the devastating news, the 24-year-old proposed to partner of four years Aisha Hasan and hopes to organise a perfect wedding in a matter of months.

"Among all the rubbish we have had to deal with, it's been nice to tell people we're engaged and bring a smile to their faces for a change," she said.

Just three weeks ago, fitness trainer Emily was dealt a life-changing blow when a scan revealed tumours in her brain.

"They say they can't operate, but obviously I still want to fight against it and don't want to go that quickly," she said.

"Physically, I am in a lot of pain in my hip and spine but I am on quite a bit of medication for that.

"But I still go to the gym when I can and I am trying not to look like I've got cancer, which is important to me."

Emily Hayward and Aisha Hasan as she tearfully revealed the results of her latest scan on her YouTube vlog
Emily Hayward and Aisha Hasan as she tearfully revealed the results of her latest scan on her YouTube vlog

Since the devastating news, Emily has continued to vlog regularly on YouTube about her battle, which featured last year in a Channel 4 documentary called Stand Up to Cancer.

The former Chaucer School sixth former now has more than 15,000 subscribers who have been following her story and offering their support.

But the biggest comfort throughout her ordeal has been Aisha.

She said: "I have been having a ring designed for Aisha for some months and I wanted to do it somewhere really nice that was special to us.

"Then the doctors told me about the brain tumours and said that if there is anything specific that I wanted to do but have been putting it off, then do it now.

"That was the moment I though 'right, that's it, I need to do it'.

"The ring was delivered the day after I was told about the new tumours and I thought that's the sign that I have got to do it.

"I actually proposed to her on the beach in Herne Bay, where I grew up and it was lovely.

"The biggest sign of commitment is marriage and I wanted Aisha to know that if I do go, I was always committed to her" - Emily Hayward

"It was really nice to do after all the darkness I have been surrounded by. She was so surprised but over the moon.

"She's been my rock throughout it all. The biggest sign of commitment is marriage and I wanted Aisha to know that if I do go, I was always committed to her."

Emily and Aisha, 26, who works in safeguarding at a school academy, are now living at her parents' home in Bromley, which has been more convenient for her regular visits to the Royal Marsden Hospital.

She says they have now found a venue and plan to marry on Saturday.

"I want it to be a day that doesn't revolve around cancer, and is something special for Aisha.

"Lots of people are offering us stuff and say I can advertise it on Facebook, but we don't want that - we want it to be totally non-related but I wanted to do it as soon as possible in case I fall too ill."

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