However, she has now conceded she duped everybody into thinking she had cancer when she had actually contracted Vascular Ehlers Disease, a condition affecting her blood and skin.

“When my condition came out it came out as cancer and it just all spiralled out of control and I couldn’t get out of it,” she explained to radio station Rock FM.

“It’s not cancer, it’s Vascular Ehlers Disease. I’ve got Vascular Ehlers Disease which affects your blood and your collagen which is what I’m on all my medication for.

“It got said (that it was terminal cancer). Obviously I should have put people correct but it had gone too far and I couldn’t get myself out of it, which I should have done really.

“I’ve hurt and upset a lot of people. All I can do is sincerely from my heart apologise. I should have put it right a while ago and I didn’t. It’s not a nice thing to do to people.”

Moon was given merchandise and the League One play-off trophy was brought to her home.

Moon vowed to return all of her Preston merchandise to the club and suggested she may now undergo counselling to help her.

She added: “I am truly sorry for not saying it’s not terminal cancer. I shouldn’t have done that, it’s an awful thing to do.”

Former England cap Davies had visited Moon in hospital and expressed his disappointment at being conned.

Writing on Twitter, he said: “Lost both my parents to cancer within 3 months of each other so it saddens me to hear how low people can stoop for their own gain.

“I’m not easily shocked and love helping people but incidents like this makes it harder. There are lots of genuine people around however”

I'm not easily shocked and love helping people but incidents like this makes it harder. There are lots of genuine people around however

— Kevin Davies (@Kevin__Davies) June 2, 2015

He later added: “What upsets me most is giving up my precious time and being deceived. Plus my daughter being upset when she met her. We live and learn”