Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding has opened up on her breast cancer battle in a newly-published extract from her forthcoming memoir, revealing she almost died after being in “denial” about having a serious health problem.
Sarah revealed she’d been diagnosed with breast cancer last August, shortly after the girls all reconnected ahead of a potential reunion.
She’s set to open up on her ordeal in new memoir, ‘Hear Me Out’, released March 18 and, in an extract published in The Times, the star reveals she initially dismissed pain in her body before seeking medical attention.
“At first I thought it was just a cyst. The trouble was the pain was getting worse. It got so bad that I couldn’t sleep in a bed. Eventually my skin started to bruise. By now I was terrified,” explains Sarah.
“One day I woke up realising I’d been in denial. Yes there was a pandemic but it was almost as if I’d been using that as an excuse not to face up to the fact that something was very wrong.”
The Call The Shots singer also reveals that she almost died of sepsis in hospital before she had chemotherapy treatment.
Sarah said she was rushed to intensive care after a port fitted into her chest, which led to sepsis.
“With both my lungs and kidneys failing, doctors decided to put me into an induced coma,” writes Sarah. “Even once I was off the ventilator I couldn’t speak properly.
“All I could do was make noises like a chimpanzee trying to communicate.”
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Sarah was then placed in a coma for two weeks as she fought off the potentially-deadly infection, after which she went on to start chemotherapy and had a mastectomy.
And while she’s trying her utmost to remain positive, the star admits doctors advised her Christmas 2020 may be her last.
“In December my doctor told me that the upcoming Christmas would probably be my last,” she confesses. “I don’t want an exact prognosis. I don’t know why anyone would want that. Comfort and being as pain-free as possible is what’s important to me now.
“I’m trying to live and enjoy every second of my life, however long it might be. I am having a glass of wine or two during all this, because it helps me relax. I’m sure some people might think that’s not a great idea, but I want to try to enjoy myself.
“I’m at a stage now where I don’t know how many months I have left. Who knows, maybe I’ll surprise everyone, but that’s how I’m looking at things.”
Adding to Sarah’s own words, a source tells The Sun she delayed being seen by doctors because she was “scared” of going to hospital amid the pandemic.
“Sarah held back from speaking to her doctors about how much pain she was in because of the pandemic and because she was scared,” they explain. “Sarah is now living with advanced cancer and has been undergoing chemotherapy.
“Along with telling her life story, Sarah wanted to use her book ‘Hear Me Out’ to urge her fans not to wait to speak to their GP under any circumstances. She doesn’t want anyone to make that mistake.”
Sarah revealed her diagnosis last August in an emotional Instagram post, writing: “A couple of weeks ago I received the devastating news that the cancer has advanced to other parts of my body.
“I’m currently undergoing weekly chemotherapy sessions and I am fighting as hard as I possibly can.”
‘Hear Me Out’ is available to order now.
