‘I was dumbstruck’: Gloria Hunniford says Sarah Harding’s shock breast cancer news reminded her of her late daughter Caron Keating’s devastating diagnosis
- Girls Aloud star Sarah, 38, shocked fans this week when she revealed she was suffering with ‘advanced’ breast cancer
- Following the heartbreaking news, Loose Women panellist Gloria, 80, reflected on her late daughter’s battle which began in 1997
- TV presenter Caron, who was diagnosed aged just 34, passed away from the disease in 2004 aged 41, after a seven year fight
Gloria Hunniford has shared that Sarah Harding’s shock breast cancer news has reminded her of the time her own daughter Caron Keating was diagnosed with the same disease.
Girls Aloud star Sarah, 38, shocked fans this week when she revealed she was suffering with ‘advanced’ breast cancer, which had spread to ‘other parts of her body.’
And following the heartbreaking news, Loose Women panellist Gloria, 80, reflected on her late daughter’s battle which began in 1997.
So sad: Gloria Hunniford has shared that Sarah Harding’s shock breast cancer news has reminded her of the time her own daughter Caron Keating was diagnosed with the same disease (pictured together in 1993)
TV presenter Caron, who was diagnosed aged just 34, passed away from the disease in 2004 aged 41, after a seven year fight.
Speaking to The Mirror about how Sarah’s news brought her back to her daughter’s diagnosis, Gloria said: ‘I was dumbstruck. Caron was 34. And like Sarah, she was young, fit and fastidious about her diet.
‘At the time, I knew of no other young girls with breast cancer. I was devastated when my gorgeous mum had to have a mastectomy in her 70s, but you half expect health problems in your parents. Not in your young daughter.’
Statistics show that just 4% out of the 55,000 women who are diagnosed with breast cancer each year are under 40-years-old.
Heartbreaking: Girls Aloud star Sarah, 38, shocked fans this week when she revealed she was suffering with ‘advanced’ breast cancer, which had spread to ‘other parts of her body’
Discussing how Caron’s positive attitude had helped her loved ones cope with the diagnosis, Gloria said: ‘Caron never talked about losing her battle – she only ever talked about life. Her whole attitude to cancer was positivity. We all tapped in to that, and she became the teacher.’
She continued to say that at times she almost felt like there was ‘nothing wrong’ as their life was filled with so much fun.
On Sarah’s announcement on social media, the TV personality went on to say that she was happy to hear that Sarah had the support of her mother Marie.
She added: ‘I was glad to hear that Sarah’s mum is helping her through this very difficult time. It’s very hard for close family to know the best way to give support and know what to say.’
Tragic: Following the heartbreaking news, Loose Women panellist Gloria, 80, reflected on her late daughter’s battle which began in 1997, she tragically passed away in 2004
The star, who has built up The Caron Keating Foundation in the wake of her daughter’s death, went on to say that there are now a lot more treatments available now for women than there were for her daughter at the time.
Meanwhile, TV host Lorraine Kelly, 60, shared her own support to Sarah, and said that her diagnosis will go on to ‘save lives’.
Speaking in her column in The Sun, she said: ‘Now that Sarah Harding has told us she has cancer, I sincerely hope she will find some comfort not only from the huge outpouring of love and sympathy, but also the knowledge that she will almost certainly save lives.
Shock: Speaking to The Mirror about how Sarah’s news brought her back to her daughter’s diagnosis, Gloria said: ‘I was dumbstruck. Caron was 34. And like Sarah, she was young, fit and fastidious about her diet’
Gone too soon: TV presenter Caron, who was diagnosed aged just 34, passed away from the disease in 2004 aged 41, after a seven year fight
‘When anyone high profile (and especially as young as Sarah who is only 38) talks openly about their illness, it raises awareness and encourages others to check for signs of the disease.’
She went on to say in relation to Girls Aloud putting aside their differences to unite for Sarah, it puts ‘everything into perspective’ and allows people to realise what ‘really matters.’
In a supportive message to the singer, she added: ‘I send her buckets of love and best wishes, as well as the hope she manages to pull through with the help of her family, friends and everyone who cares about her.’
Singer and former wild child Sarah shared her shocking diagnosis with fans on Instagram on Wednesday, leading to an outpouring of support.
Brave: Discussing how Caron’s positive attitude had helped her loved ones cope with the diagnosis, Gloria said: ‘Caron never talked about losing her battle – she only ever talked about life’
Sarah announced the heartbreaking news with a snap taken from her hospital bed, as she explained she’d been undergoing weekly chemotherapy sessions, but the cancer has spread to ‘other parts of her body.’
She wrote: ‘Hi everyone, I hope you are all keeping safe and well during these uncertain times.
‘I’ve not posted on here for so long, thank you to everyone who has reached out to check in on me, it really does mean a lot.
‘I feel now is the right time to share what’s been going on. There’s no easy way to say this and actually it doesn’t even feel real writing this, but here goes.
‘Earlier this year I was diagnosed with breast cancer and a couple of weeks ago I received the devastating news that the cancer has advanced to other parts of my body.’
Support: On Sarah’s announcement on social media, the TV presenter went on to say that she was happy to hear that Sarah had the support of her mother Marie (pictured in 2003)
Kind words: ‘I was glad to hear that Sarah’s mum is helping her through this very difficult time. It’s very hard for close family to know the best way to give support and know what to say’
Sarah continued: ‘I’m currently undergoing weekly chemotherapy sessions and I am fighting as hard as I possibly can. I understand this might be shocking to read on social media and that really isn’t my intention.
‘But last week it was mentioned online that I had been seen in hospital, so I feel now is the time to let people know what’s going on and this is the best way I can think of to do so.
‘My amazing mum, family and close friends are helping me through this, and I want to say a thank you to the wonderful NHS doctors and nurses who have been and continue to be heroes.
Reaching out: Meanwhile, TV host Lorraine Kelly, 60, shared her own support to Sarah, and said that her diagnosis will go on to ‘save lives’
Sad news: Singer and former wild child Sarah shared her shocking diagnosis with fans on Instagram on Wednesday, leading to an outpouring of support (pictured in 2018)
‘I am doing my very best to keep positive and will keep you updated here with how I’m getting on. In the meantime I hope you’ll all understand and respect my request for privacy during this difficult time. Sending you all so much love….xx.’
All of the Girls Aloud members sent their support, with Cheryl, 37, tweeting a ‘broken heart’ emoji after Sarah announced the news.
Nadine, 35, wrote: ‘I love you!! You have always been able to achieve miracles when needed!! I am here for the all ways & always will be!!!’
Clearly shocked by Sarah’s diagnosis, Nicola, 34, tweeted: ‘It goes without saying that this is blindsiding. @SarahNHarding you’re so loved and supported.’
Kimberley, 38, also sent her love to her former bandmate, writing: ‘My heart is broken. You are so strong and brave and we are with you every step of the way.’
Moving: Sarah’s bandmates Cheryl, Nicola, Kimberley Walsh and Nadine all shared their support for the star on Twitter following her shocking news
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and affects more than two MILLION women a year
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Each year in the UK there are more than 55,000 new cases, and the disease claims the lives of 11,500 women. In the US, it strikes 266,000 each year and kills 40,000. But what causes it and how can it be treated?
What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer develops from a cancerous cell which develops in the lining of a duct or lobule in one of the breasts.
When the breast cancer has spread into surrounding breast tissue it is called an ‘invasive’ breast cancer. Some people are diagnosed with ‘carcinoma in situ’, where no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobule.
Most cases develop in women over the age of 50 but younger women are sometimes affected. Breast cancer can develop in men though this is rare.
Staging means how big the cancer is and whether it has spread. Stage 1 is the earliest stage and stage 4 means the cancer has spread to another part of the body.
The cancerous cells are graded from low, which means a slow growth, to high, which is fast growing. High grade cancers are more likely to come back after they have first been treated.
What causes breast cancer?
A cancerous tumour starts from one abnormal cell. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. It is thought that something damages or alters certain genes in the cell. This makes the cell abnormal and multiply ‘out of control’.
Although breast cancer can develop for no apparent reason, there are some risk factors that can increase the chance of developing breast cancer, such as genetics.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast, although most breast lumps are not cancerous and are fluid filled cysts, which are benign.
The first place that breast cancer usually spreads to is the lymph nodes in the armpit. If this occurs you will develop a swelling or lump in an armpit.
How is breast cancer diagnosed?
- Initial assessment: A doctor examines the breasts and armpits. They may do tests such as a mammography, a special x-ray of the breast tissue which can indicate the possibility of tumours.
- Biopsy: A biopsy is when a small sample of tissue is removed from a part of the body. The sample is then examined under the microscope to look for abnormal cells. The sample can confirm or rule out cancer.
If you are confirmed to have breast cancer, further tests may be needed to assess if it has spread. For example, blood tests, an ultrasound scan of the liver or a chest x-ray.
How is breast cancer treated?
Treatment options which may be considered include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment. Often a combination of two or more of these treatments are used.
- Surgery: Breast-conserving surgery or the removal of the affected breast depending on the size of the tumour.
- Radiotherapy: A treatment which uses high energy beams of radiation focussed on cancerous tissue. This kills cancer cells, or stops cancer cells from multiplying. It is mainly used in addition to surgery.
- Chemotherapy: A treatment of cancer by using anti-cancer drugs which kill cancer cells, or stop them from multiplying
- Hormone treatments: Some types of breast cancer are affected by the ‘female’ hormone oestrogen, which can stimulate the cancer cells to divide and multiply. Treatments which reduce the level of these hormones, or prevent them from working, are commonly used in people with breast cancer.
How successful is treatment?
The outlook is best in those who are diagnosed when the cancer is still small, and has not spread. Surgical removal of a tumour in an early stage may then give a good chance of cure.
The routine mammography offered to women between the ages of 50 and 70 mean more breast cancers are being diagnosed and treated at an early stage.
For more information visit breastcancercare.org.uk or www.cancerhelp.org.uk
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