A CANCER campaigner has thrown her support behind a drive to legalise assisted dying in the UK.

Sara Cutting from Brighton has made a video for Dignity in Dying where she encourages people to get talking about the issue.

Ms Cutting, 47, from Brighton, was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2014 and had surgery to remove the tumour before going through chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

She shaved off her hair before treatment and then launched her daily hat challenge.

This involved her taking a selfie of herself wearing a different hat made from anything she could find which included toasters, kettles, teapots, boardgames, radios, flowers and feathers.

Despite the challenge being over, Ms Cutting continues to post regular pictures and updates while urging people to check themselves out and be aware of the signs and symptoms of cancer.

She also actively fundraises for Macmillan Cancer Support and has raised more than £21,000 so far.

Ms Cutting is currently in remission but says she would want to be able to take her own life if the issue ever arose and would consider going to across to a Dignitas clinic in Europe if she had to.

She said: “I've always been a supporter of assisted dying, even before I got cancer, so now I'm helping the Dignity in Dying campaign in any way I can.

“I don’t want to have to travel to Switzerland and put my family or friends in a position where they could be prosecuted for helping me.

“If I was in a situation where there was no other choice, and I could afford to make that journey, then I would definitely consider it.

“But why should dying people have to pay thousands and travel hundreds of miles from their home and family to take control of their death?”

In the video, which is posted on YouTube, Ms Cutting says: "I’ve had to look at this question myself.

“I know that I don’t want to end my life in pain. I want to end my life living, right up to the moment that I die.

“I think people are very nervous to speak about it but I think what would be great is to try to encourage people to get the conversation going. Let’s just get talking about it.”

Under the Suicide Act 1961, anyone helping or encouraging someone to take their own life can be prosecuted and jailed for up to 14 years.

In 2015 MPs including David Cameron rejected a bill to legalise assisted dying, but a second bill was raised in the House of Lords in June.

Opposition to changing the law has come from faith groups, campaigners who say disabled people may feel pressured to end their lives, and campaigners who fear assisted dying would become a business.