Talk to the Headscarf

Imagine you're thirty-two, married, with two little children and you find out you're carrying a deadly cancer gene? That was me in August 2005. I discovered I had the gene Brca1, which means a 50% chance of developing ovarian and an 85% chance of developing breast cancer. I had two options - wait for the big bad cancer wolf or have radical surgery. I chose the latter. Over the following year, I had a double mastectomy and both ovaries removed, which reduced my cancer risk to 5%. I was just dressing in my victory dance outfit, when my worst fears were realised. Cancer had struck anyway. Between 2007 and 2010, I battled and slayed cancer six times. This book takes you on my journey during that turbulent time in my life. If you've just been diagnosed with cancer, I know you are scared. I was too. But I want you to know you are not alone. More than that, I want you to know that I am still here. The score so far is - Cancer 0 : Emma 6. Even if my cancer returns, I will keep on crusading. I can show you how being positive and a big dollop of black humour can go a very long way towards getting better. So chin up, wig on and don't forget, your skin can absorb an astonishing amount of make-up on those bad hair days! Love Emma Hannigan