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Jem Reeves (right) with partner and ex-Motorhead guitarist, Würzel |
‘Kylie going through it at the same time made it easier’
Former breast cancer patient Jem Reeves explains her positive outlook
WHEN Jem Reeves passes joggers on the canal towpath she feels compelled to stop them.
But Ms Reeves, 56, is no crazy stalker, she just wants to thank them for doing their bit to help people like her. Since she received the all-clear after being treated for breast cancer last year, Ms Reeves, who lives in Linton Street, Islington, has found a new meaning in life, regularly stopping people in training to ask them which charity they are running for.
The former publisher has battled with eating disorders, depression and stress but it was the discovery of a lump in her breast that helped put her life into perspective.
She said: “I know I have been lucky and I know others have had a much harder time. I can’t say it’s the same for everyone but I want to give people hope.”
After witnessing the old-fashioned treatment her husband, a specialist in Hodgkins Lymphoma, was subjected to when he lost his life to the disease in 1980, she says treatment in the NHS has progressed significantly.
She said: “When my husband had chemotherapy, he was in hospital for four or five days – I was only in for an hour.”
She has been supported throughout by her partner of 20 years, former Motorhead guitarist Würzel.
She said: “Würzel was desperately upset. He was asking why wasn’t it him.”
Her first mammogram last year failed to diagnose her lump as cancerous. It was only when she visited her Well Woman clinic in River Place Health centre, Islington, that it was noticed.
She said: “The doctor picked it up immediately. She said: “We’ll get this sorted for you.” She didn’t let me worry. They were fabulous.”
Within a week, she was seen by a doctor at UCLH, Euston Road.
She said: “They diagnosed it immediately, and gave me a mammogram the same day. This was all NHS and not private. The doctor told me what they would do about it. They were so positive. They booked me in for an operation a week later. I was out the next day.”
She added: “I had a partial mastectomy but it hasn’t made that much difference – I wasn’t really known for my breasts. They have this new thing where they work out exactly how many nodes (which feed the lump) need to be removed. Even a year ago, they would have had to take them all out just in case.”
When losing her hair after chemotherapy and radiation treatment, Ms Reeves was still upbeat.
She said: “The anti-sickness pills worked perfectly. I’m a very idle person so it was no problem for me to rest on the sofa.”
Rather than wear turbans, hats or real wigs, she bought fun wigs from a joke shop but she was often happy to stay bald.
She added: “Kylie Minogue was going through it at the same time and Gail Porter was in the news so that made it easy. So many men would tell me they loved Sigourney Weaver in Alien or Sinead O’Connor. I didn’t feel unattractive.
“The children I used to babysit for turned up with cards and cakes, neighbours did incredible things, the local grocer sent over baskets of fruit. It restored my faith in people.
“I’m so happy to be healed. I can’t thank the people enough who run the marathons and raise money for breast cancer. It makes all the difference to the facilities we have.” |
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