FRIENDS and family are mourning the loss of 21-year-old Paris Steenson, who died last week after an 18-month fight against cancer.

Paris died at Great Western Hospital on Friday afternoon with more than 20 of her family and friends at her bedside.

She suffered from a severe infection her body couldn’t fight.

The Primark sales assistant was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in April 2014 after she found two lumps on her neck.

Her daily struggle through several courses of chemotherapy and failed drug trials was hidden behind a strong, funny and wacky personality, according to her brother David Harrington.

David, 30, of Edale Moor in Liden, said: “Surprisingly, she was always really well. She was in and out of hospital every single day, always happy and smiling, cracking jokes, playing with the kids.

“You would never have thought she had a disease like that. You would never have known.”

He said his sister, a qualified hairdresser, had been through several courses of chemotherapy and a failed drugs trial in Oxford before going on to her final treatment , known as a miniBEAM in recent weeks.

But after the first course, Paris contracted the infection which saw her rushed to hospital shortly after 4am on Friday.

With the family informed, David and his relatives were all at the hospital and by her bedside before 7am.

Paris continued to drift in and out of consciousness through the day as doctors tried various solutions, but nothing worked and she eventually died shortly before 5pm.

In paying tribute to Paris, who lived in Warneford Close with her mother as her carer, David said: “She was wacky, funny and loved pink. She was always taking the mick out of people in some way.”

Paris’ funeral has been arranged for Wednesday, October 21, at Kingsdown Crematorium from 2.15pm and all who knew her are welcome.

A wake will follow at The Moonrakers pub.

A memorial page has also been set up by Paris’s family, which, it is hoped, will help to support funeral costs.

“We have had hundreds and hundreds of messages. Facebook’s gone crazy,” said David.

“All we have done so far is set up a donation page to see if we can cover the cost of the funeral.

“Mum’s been out of work and only getting a small carer’s allowance which has now come to a halt.”

“We have done all we can and scraped together what we can as a family.”

To donate, visit crowdfunding.

justgiving/paris-steenson.