I think all of us at some time in our lives when we reach a certain age worry a little about cancer. I think the thought, “how will I react” crosses our minds occasionally. That this brave lady chooses to make her ordeal so public, she produced video diaries and tweets and now her written diary, has helped thousands. At the end of the book she encloses some messages of thanks, a few from those who didn’t make it. It is tear-jerking but it is also laced with humour. Throughout, whenever possible, she kept working, collecting the kids from school and running her hectic household with the enormous support of her wonderful partner. During the end stages of thirty sessions of chemo, she had to drive forty-odd miles round trip between work and school collection for a ten minute appointment her local hospital couldn’t do. Well she was certainly a fighter, although that is not what she calls herself. She believed talking about it really helped alleviate the fear and despair. She was diagnosed shortly after she started hosting a daily news and current affairs show for BBC2 and takes us through her fascinating work as well as the 301 days of treatment. A brave lady.
Dear Cancer, Love Victoria: A Mum's Diary of Hope Synopsis
'I can't bear not to be with these three most important people in my life. I can't bear not to be there alongside Mark as my children grow up. My bright, funny, affectionate boys who are never embarrassed to say, love you mummy , and say it ten times day.' Renowned as a much-loved and highly respected BBC journalist, Victoria Derbyshire has spent 20 years finding the human story behind the headlines. In 2015 she found herself at the heart of the news, with a devastating breast cancer diagnosis. With honesty and openness, she decided to live out her treatment and recovery in the spotlight in a series of video diaries that encouraged thousands to seek diagnosis and help. Victoria has kept a diary since she was nine years old and in DEAR CANCER, LOVE VICTORIA she shares her day to day experiences of life following her diagnosis and coming to terms with a future that wasn't planned. From the moment she woke up to find her right breast had collapsed, to telling her partner and children, through to mastectomy and chemotherapy. From wearing a wig to work and hiding it from her colleagues, to the relief and joy of finishing treatment before immediately flying to Glasgow to present a debate on the European Referendum. By sharing her story, she became the person that mums, daughters, sisters, husbands, boyfriends and family members contacted to thank as they tried to find ways to cope with their own and their loved ones' prognosis, and needed to know that they were not alone. Victoria's story is an affecting and at times heart-breaking one but it is so often laugh-out-loud too. Moving, wonderfully heartwarming and ultimately uplifting, this is a powerful account of a brave struggle told with honesty, courage and emotion that gives strength to anyone touched by cancer.
'A powerful diary... highlighting the huge value of support.' Susanna Reid
'A really good, searingly honest book...a must read.' Lorraine Kelly
'Truly brilliant.' Claudia Winkleman
'Wonderful, courageous, spirited and just plain honest...a gift to all those folk who are suddenly blasted into the scary, bleak world of cancer.' Dame Julie Walters
[Victoria Derbyshire] shares her day to day experiences of life folloiwng her diagnosis and coming to terms with a future that wasn't planned. From the moment she woke up to find her right breast had collapsed, to telling her partner and children, through to mastectomy and chemotherapy, we are there with her.' Good Housekeeping
'This powerful account of Victoria Derbyshire's struggle to deal with her breast cancer diagnosis is told with honesty and courage that gives strength to those touched by cancer.' Daily Telegraph
'Victoria is exactly the type of friend everyone would want by their side after being diagnosed with cancer. Although her story is at times heartbreaking, it is also frank, funny and succeeds in demystifying an illness often discussed in hushed tones.' - Elizabeth Archer DAILY EXPRESS
Author
About Victoria Derbyshire
Victoria Derbyshire is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster. She joined BBC Radio 5 Live in 1998 and spent 16 happy years presenting both the breakfast programme and later her own morning programme, winning 5 Sony Gold Awards. In 2015 she went on to host a daily news and current affairs show that airs on BBC 2 and BBC News. The same year, Victoria was diagnosed with breast cancer. Faced with this diagnosis, she made the decision to share her experiences in a series of video diaries in an effort to help demystify cancer treatment. To date, these videos have amassed over 13 million views. Victoria has also set up a Facebook page where she and her readers can share their experiences: https://www.facebook.com/DearCancerLoveVictoria/ Victoria is an ambassador for the teen cancer support charity, You Can; she lives in Middlesex with her partner, two sons and Cocker Spaniel.
