Sheila Hancock on Breast Cancer

Actor Sheila Hancock chatted to members and answered questions on the Breast Cancer Board on Thursday, September 13, 2001

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.