A brave 18-year-old says her world has been turned upside down after being diagnosed with cancer seven weeks ago.

But Poppy Cruse, from Rushford, between Thetford and Diss, is now vowing to turn a 'rubbish situation' into a positive by raising more than £2,500 with a charity headshave.

She first spotted a lump on her neck at the end of May and a month later was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma.

She has managed to raise over £2,500 on her Just Giving page in just 48 hours.

The West Suffolk College student - who even hates having a trim - will be donating her hair to the Little Princess Trust that makes wigs for children with hair loss.

She said; 'I've recently started chemotherapy so I'm going to have to lose my hair - I would like something good to come out of a rubbish situation.

'I'd heard of the little Princess Trust and decided I would like someone to get a wig made out of my hair.

'It's incredible how the charity provides free wigs to children, given that wigs can cost over £900.

'I've had long hair since I was ten and everyone says 'you have such beautiful hair', which makes it hard but at least it's going to a good cause.

'My family and I have been up and down since my diagnosis - we all have days when we are crying and can't believe it's happening.

'But I can only be positive - the treatment I've had has been incredible. They have found the problem and we are getting it sorted.'

The 18-year-old first noticed the lump on her neck when she was cooking and thought it was an allergic reaction to food.

She immediately went to her pharmacist and then her doctor and the following day had a blood test and x-ray at West Suffolk Hospital.

Several biopsies and a CP scan later led to her being diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin Lymphoma cancer.

The inspirational student said: 'The earlier you get it diagnosed, the more chance there is of getting it cured.

'There is a medicine out there that can beat it.'

To donate to Poppy's fundraiser, click here.