CANCER patient Chris Nelson is making an amazing recovery after embarking on a gruelling 200-tablets-a-day regime.

Doctors have told 57-year-old Chris, who was diagnosed as terminally ill two years ago, that her condition is now considered only "chronic".

She is convinced the remarkable improvement is down largely to an intensive complementary therapy course she began 12 months ago.

As the Evening Press exclusively revealed last autumn, the treatment initially involved almost 200 capsules and tablets a day, plus a super-healthy diet and regular enemas and injections, giving her dozens of minerals, vitamins and other natural substances from around the world.

Today she thanked hundreds of former Nestl Rowntree colleagues who helped raise thousands of pounds to help pay for the expensive treatment, particularly Jean Boggan and Max Furnandiz, who has herself been fighting breast cancer.

Chris revealed that the fundraising drive will continue on Saturday with a Christmas flower demonstration by Fiona Hogg at Stockton-on-Forest Village Hall, when Chris will also be selling Christmas decorations she has made in recent months.

Chris, of Heworth, who developed bone cancer after the disease spread from breast cancer, says she was told in late 2002 after being diagnosed as terminally ill that she might expect to live for about 18 to 24 months. "That was the average life expectancy of people with my condition", she said.

By the late summer of 2003, with the number of "cancer markers" in her blood rising quickly, she decided to go to a London cancer specialist, who prescribed intensive complementary therapy aimed at attacking the cancer while also protecting her immune system.

But she also carried on taking conventional medications prescribed by her doctors in York, and her husband Alan is convinced the twin-pronged approach lies behind her improved health.

Chris said she had been feeling well and able to lead a fairly normal life in recent months, but had still been shocked when her oncologist recently told her he now considered her chronically rather than terminally ill.

"I was stunned. It was incredible," she said.

Chris stressed she had not been "cured", and said the current extent of her bone cancer would become much clearer after a scan she was due to have in a few weeks time.

Her oncologist, Professor David Dodwell, said the cancer was not curable but seemed to be "relatively quiescent." Asked if he believed the complementary therapy lay behind Chris' improvement, he said his views were "neutral," but stressed the importance of hormone therapy.

To book or reserve tickets for Saturday afternoon's event, call Jean Boggan on 01904 415743 or Max Furnandiz on 01653 618873.

Chris's daily diary of supplements

06:00 Two capsules

07:45 Half bottle liquid

08:30 One bottle liquid

09:20 43 tablets or capsules, six drops liquid, two herb teas

11:50 30 tablets or capsules, five drops liquid, one teaspoon liquid

13:15 Ten tablets or capsules, one tablespoon of liquid

15:45 30 tablets or capsules, five drops liquid, one teaspoon liquid

17:00 Half bottle liquid

18:00 43 tablets or capsules, six drops liquid, two herb teas

20:30 31 tablets or capsules, five drops liquid, one teaspoon liquid

Updated: 10:07 Wednesday, November 10, 2004