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Reporter begins Asian adventure after brain tumour fight

A regional daily reporter who successfully battled a life-threatening brain tumour has set off on a three-month Asian adventure.

Ellen Beardmore, a journalist at The Star in Sheffield, is going travelling in South-East Asia but intends to return to the paper when she is back in the country in January.

Last year Ellen, pictured, underwent a 12-hour operation to remove a large benign tumour in her brain and she vowed to go travelling while in hospital.

She began her three-month adventure on Tuesday and is writing a blog about her travels.

In Ellen’s latest blog as she started her adventure, she wrote: “So, the journey begins. I’m packed, checked and am an embarrassing 45 minutes early for the train to Manchester airport.

“Thanks to everyone for the good luck messages. For some reason all of them have included the words ‘stay safe’… It’s like I have a reputation for getting lost, misplacing my belongings and falling into mishaps or something? Odd.

“A year ago exactly I was in the Royal Hallamshire, shaking with fear, having endless scans and tests which eventually found the brain tumour and turned the world upside down for a while.

“I’m so grateful to be here today. The nerves are just as bad but they are mixed with major, incredible excitement for the next few weeks.”

Ellen’s tumour was picked up on after she had an eye test at Boots, when an optician referred her for urgent hospital scans because she had swollen optic nerves and her prescription had changed dramatically.

She described her battle with the tumour in a story for The Star as she recovered from her surgery.