The grieving parents of a brave cancer sufferer have told of their heartbreak as their only daughter died surrounded by her family on the morning of her 20th birthday.

Emily Mackay, of Ladyfields, Broomfield, passed away early on Tuesday after being diagnosed with a rare form of the disease in 2013.

The trainee chef – who died at her family home – underwent various rounds of chemotherapy following her diagnosis, but was told in March that experts could no longer treat her cancer.

Emily’s father, Graham, told the Gazette this week how his daughter was determined to stay in her home and reach her birthday.

The 51-year-old said: “For the last six weeks they said they couldn’t do anymore and she deteriorated pretty rapidly.

“We knew it was going to be quite soon – we had been told that – but we had fantastic support from the Pilgrims Hospices and the doctors and medical services were superb.

“Emily was determined not to go into the hospice – she was incredibly independent and they came here to the house to support us instead.

“She loved being here at home.”

Emily was diagnosed in November 2013 with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer found in young people normally in leg or arm bones.

The diagnosis came while she was studying a professional cookery course at East Kent College’s Broadstairs campus, aged 17.

Her primary tumour in her right thigh was removed through chemotherapy and surgery, but another tumour was later discovered in her pelvis.

Emily then underwent another cycle of chemo and radiotherapy for a lung tumour and also had two brain tumours removed.

Earlier this year – however – the brain tumour returned for a third time and left doctors unable to treat it again.

Emily’s mum, Karen, 51, said: “When she had her second lot of chemotherapy, she was having chemo one week and then back at college the next.

“We never had to nag her to do her homework and she was dedicated and professional with everything she approached – Emily was always so determined.

“If she set her mind on something, she was going to do it and do it to a high standard as well.”

Emily, who spent her early years in Cyprus before moving back to Kent, gained 15 GCSEs at the Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham.

She did not let her diagnosis stop her from working and had a summer job at the Table Table restaurant in Broomfield, before working at The Sugar Boy sweet shop in Whitstable’s Harbour Street last year.

A keen netball player, Emily was part of the Canterbury Academy of Netball for a number of years and returned to work there as a coach after her diagnosis.

In May 2014, East Kent College held a fundraising dinner in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust, which supported Emily, whose ashes will be scattered in Cyprus.

The event, which is now in its third year, has raised £15,000 and Emily’s parents intend to carry on organising the dinner.

Graham, who works for the Ministry of Defence, added: “We both need to focus on something – the college has been brilliant and it is only right that we repay them.

“Emily was a very determined character. When she got her diagnosis, she said ‘right, I will get on with life’.

“She was very intelligent and very positive about life – she was a fantastic daughter.”

Emily’s funeral will be held at Barham Crematorium on Monday, July 4 at 1.20pm.

All are welcome and the family has requested no black and family flowers only, with donations to the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Donations can be made through Beltinge and District Funeral Service Ltd, 132 Reculver Road, Beltinge, Herne Bay, CT6 6PL. Call 01227 363300 for details.