Sheila Hancock on breast cancer: transcript

Ms Hancock, star of BBC TV dramas, The Russian Bride and Bedtime, fought breast cancer more than 10 years ago. She was a rock of support for her husband, John Thaw, who received treatment for oesophageal cancer (cancer of the gullet). He died on February 21st 2002. Sheila Hancock is a patron of CancerBACUP, a charity which offers help and support to cancer sufferers. (John Thaw was also a patron of the charity up until his death). CancerBACUP are also partners on our Breast Cancer Support Board. Here’s what happened when Sheila visited the board.

Marieuk2000: How did having breast cancer change your life or inspire you to make radical changes to your lifestyle? We’re all rooting for John’s recovery.
Sheila Hancock:When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, it was my first brush with mortality. I thought I was going to live forever before then. So it made me more determined to enjoy life while I had it. On a practical level, I did improve my diet. I did take more time to rest. I did try not to get stressed out over ridiculous, unimportant things but, most importantly, I made a conscious effort to live the moment. I have a phrase which I constantly say to myself: ‘I am here now’. It makes you look around and appreciate the moment. Thanks for your thoughts for John.

Emma:What support did you get from the Bristol Cancer Help Centre? I believe you are a former patient.
Sheila Hancock:Bristol Cancer Help Centre was an enormous help to me. I went there for a week not long after I was diagnosed and I was feeling totally negative when I arrived. At the end of it, just the fact that I had taken time out to concentrate on myself and spoke to many people who had survived cancer, I came out feeling 100 per cent more positive. The general feeling is that a diagnosis of cancer is a death sentence. It is not necessarily, and here I am 14 years later to prove it. The important message from Bristol is to focus on yourself and your recovery.