Wendy Richard's Cancer Returns

[RitaLittlewood]

From the Press Association:

Wendy Richard 'is dying of cancer'
1 hour ago

Former EastEnders star Wendy Richard is dying of cancer and will marry her long-term partner before she dies, according to the Sunday Express.

The 65-year-old actress told the newspaper she has written her will and planned her funeral after being diagnosed in January with an aggressive form of the disease that has attacked her kidney and spread to her bones.

The star, who played Pauline Fowler in the BBC One soap opera, has twice been diagnosed with breast cancer.

She said: "I went for my usual annual check-up and they found that some cancer cells had returned in my left armpit."

The actress, who rose to fame playing Miss Brahms in Are You Being Served?, explained that despite being treated for the cancer it has spread through her body.

She added: "The drugs I was given to help had an adverse effect. If anything, they did more damage than good so my health has really deteriorated. Now I have a cancerous growth on my right kidney and the cancer has spread to my bones.

"Twice I've had breast cancer but this is different. It's more aggressive this time, unfortunately, and has spread to the top of my spine and left ribs."

She added: "My oncologist said I've got several useful years ahead of me but since then it's got worse."

Ms Richard will marry her partner, John Burns, before starting chemotherapy treatment on October 13.

She was awarded the MBE for services to television in 2000.

[pearly queen]

That's dreadful news, I don't know what to say, how awful.

[CG Wendy]

OMG!!! how terrible!!!! That`s a huge shocker. My heart goes out to her.

[RitaLittlewood]

It is. She must have been looking forward to a relaxing future and more varied work after quitting EE. Now she has to fight this awful disease yet again. My thoughts are with Wendy as she endures this.

Patsy

[Nick]

Poor Wendy..my thoughts are with her

[RitaLittlewood]

The full interview from the Sunday Express:

WENDY: MY DYING WISH

Sunday October 5,2008
By Camilla Tominey

NATIONAL treasure Wendy Richard has spoken of her heartbreak at being told she is dying of cancer.

In an exclusive interview, the former EastEnders actress revealed how she has written a will and planned her funeral after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease that has attacked her kidney and spread to her bones.

The 65-year-old star, who has twice beaten breast cancer, will marry John Burns, her long-term partner, this week – just days before starting a gruelling course of chemotherapy.

Wendy, who played Pauline Fowler in the soap for 21 years, opened her heart to the Sunday Express in an emotional interview to “set the record straight” on her health and career.

She revealed how she received the shock diagnosis in January, despite having been given the all-clear from cancer after her second bout in 2002. “I went for my usual annual check-up and they found that some cancer cells had returned in my left armpit,” she said.

Wendy was prescribed a course of drugs to help cure the cancer but they only made it worse.

“Sadly, the cancer has spread,” she said. “The drugs I was given to help had an adverse effect. If anything, they did more damage than good so my health has really deteriorated. Now I have a cancerous growth on my right kidney and the cancer has spread to my bones.

“Twice I’ve had breast cancer but this is different. It’s more aggressive this time, unfortunately, and has spread to the top of my spine and left ribs.”

She will start chemotherapy on October 13 but the prognosis is not good. “My oncologist said I’ve got several useful years ahead of me but since then it’s got worse.

“Part of me is dreading the chemo but I’ve got my wig all ready and prepared, because obviously I will lose my hair. Because I’ve never had chemo before they can give me a big dose so I’m hoping that will zap it.”

Speaking of the moment she found out the cancer had returned, she said: “I was absolutely raging, hopping mad to have to go through it all again.

“It has come as a terrible shock and you just get so fed up. You think, ‘Oh, crikey, here we go again’, but you just have to buck your ideas up and get on with these things.”

Although she is trying to be as positive as possible, the past few months have been a nightmare for Wendy, who has been suffering terribly from nausea.

She said: “I’ve had pain for at least five years because the second time I had breast cancer I also contracted lymphoedema, which is in my left arm, so I got used to being in pain through that.

“It’s a dull ache most of the time and you just learn to live with it. But this year the pain has been much worse because it has been in my bones and my kidneys as well.

“Some nights I’ve just wanted to scream the place down. It didn’t matter whether you lay down, stood up, sat down – the pain was just there all the time. At one point this year I was on 11 tablets a day but I’m up to 12 now. And I have to have injections in my stomach every day.”

Wendy went to a solicitor as soon as she was diagnosed because she did not want Belfast-born John, her partner of almost 13 years, to be “left behind with a mess to sort out”.

She explained: “We were going to get married anyway but when we got the diagnosis we decided to push ahead and get married now. There was no rush before.

“I’ve looked at it from both sides of the coin. If I get better, which hopefully I will, all well and good, but, worse case scenario and I do pass away, John is secure because I have made my will and drawn up what arrangements I would like for my funeral and what music I would like played, so I’ve tried to think of everything.”

[sootycat]

This is shocking news.
Especially as she no longer has the stress of a heavy ( Eastenders ) workload and was more relaxed about working.

She seems quite resigned to the fact she is not going to be around.

How people cope with this sort of news is beyond me.
I do hope that she somehow manages to beat this.

[eithne]

The poor woman. Its such a shock on her, especially after leaving Eastenders and expecting to enjoy her retirement.

[RitaLittlewood]

Wendy is someone I would call brave, not the likes of flipping Jade Goody who only wants to be in the media. Wendy fought both previous cancers in private as much as possible and she's already gone through so much with this one, again privately. It made me so angry the other day seeing a photo of Jade grinning at the camera with a headscarf on whereas Wendy is in terrible agony daily.

Patsy

[Nick]

I saw that picture too

[RitaLittlewood]

And hey, she's STILL fat for someone at death's door! She doesn't deserve ANY sympathy because she's clearly exaggerated it for sympathy. Wendy on the other hand does. I hope she gets through it but even she's realistic about her chances.

Patsy

[CG Wendy]

I couldn`t agree more. For someone like Wendy who prefers to fight her cancer privately shows how classy she is. Unlike that total waste of space who is Jade Goody who seems addicted to the media.

Pats...no doubt she`ll say her weight gain is because of chemo. Who cares if she made a will or not. Does it have to be front page news fer gawds sake.

[RitaLittlewood]

If she does I hope someone points out she was the same size when she went into the hospital. Oh but then she'd probably put all her chins down to the cancer. Oh she makes me sick and all this publicity during treatment makes me more convinced she's lied or exaggerated.

I hope Wendy manages to get through her wedding relatively pain free.

Patsy

[RitaLittlewood]

www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1088819/Cancer-stricken-Wendy-Richard-looks-pale-gaunt-goes-shopping-pet-dog-Lily.html

Poor Wendy. She really does look ill.

Patsy

[pearly queen]

It looks like she's deteriorated quite a bit, I hope she's bearing up poor thing

[RitaLittlewood]

While a certain other person is still fat. Funny that. I was shocked at how thin Wendy's become. I think John and her friends will give her a Christmas to remember.

Patsy

[RitaLittlewood]

From the People:

18 January 2009
Wendy Richard: Chemo has hit me for six. But I'll beat this

EXCLUSIVE BRAVE WENDY OPENS HEART TO THE PEOPLE IN FIRST INTERVIEW SINCE STARTING CANCER TREATMENT
I lost my blonde hair - so what? I've got 3wigs. I like to look good Thousands of emails from fans

By Assistant Editor David Jeffs And Sarah Jellema [e-mail]

Brave Wendy Richard has spoken for the first time about her cancer battle and vowed: "I'm not dying. I'm staying positive because this illness won't beat me."

Fighter Wendy, 65, who lost her hair six weeks ago, waved courageously to onlookers after she left a clinic this week.

Wearing a new blonde wig and a hospital tag, the actress who played EastEnders battle-axe Pauline Fowler for 22 years clung to new husband John Burns for support.

Speaking candidly about her fight against kidney and bone cancer, Wendy said defiantly: "Listen, I never said I was dying, that was other people saying that.

"Things are fine thanks. I've just had my fifth chemo session and it went OK."

And with typical Pauline Fowler bluntness she added: "Other people are far worse off than me so I ain't worried." Opening her heart to The People, Wendy - who rose to fame as brassy shop girl Miss Brahms in the Seventies sitcom Are You Being Served? - revealed how she...

Lives like a recluse in her central London home because her immune system is so low and she worries about getting an infection.

Sleeps for hours during the day because the chemotherapy "knocks her for six".

Blends her food because mouth ulcers from the chemo make solids too painful.

Receives thousands of emails and messages of support from fans all round the world and fellow stars.

Bought three wigs but doesn't worry she's lost her famous blonde locks.

Wendy said: "I haven't been out much because the weather has been so cold.

"When you are on chemo your immune system is very low. So if I caught a cold it could be quite serious for someone in my position. I'd rather not take a risk.

"I spend my days watching TV and resting in-between chemo which I have once every four weeks in London's Harley Street.

Usually a couple of days afterwards it kicks in and can knock me for six.

"It affects everybody differently. But I'm staying positive."

Wendy brought forward her wedding to John, 45, her partner of 13 years, a week after being diagnosed with her illness.

The couple had an intimate ceremony at the Chesterfield Hotel in London's Mayfair last October with 60 family friends and showbiz stars.

Just three days later the actress had her first chemo session.

Wendy said: "John has been absolutely brilliant, first-class.

"He's been there for me every step of the way, making sure I eat. The worst side-effect is that I get an ulcerated mouth which means I can't eat.

"I have to have my food blended to help. Mostly though I just nod off during the day"

And in a poignant message to Jade Goody, 27, who is battling cervical cancer and has just lost her hair, Wendy said: "Please offer my support and kindest wishes to her.

"If you are a woman losing your hair can be a really big deal, especially to someone as young as Jade.

"But my view is 'so what' - everybody in my position loses their hair but it's no big deal, it will grow back. I wear a wig, I've got three.

"It gradually started coming out six weeks ago but it's something you expect.

"It goes with the territory, doesn't it, and you move on. Some days if I'm not going out I won't wear one but I like to look my best at all times.

"My message to Jade is to persevere and stay positive."

Wendy was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer that had attacked her kidney and spread to her bones after she had TWICE beaten breast cancer.

She said: "Twice I've had breast cancer but this is different. It's more aggressive this time.

"I have a cancerous growth on my right kidney and it has spread to the top of my spine and left ribs."

But despite her serious plight, Wendy, whose EastEnders character Pauline died in Albert Square on Christmas Day 2006, says she has been lifted by support from thousands of strangers and her show business friends.

The Middlesbrough-born actress who starred in two Carry On Films said proudly: "I've got emails and messages of support from all over the world.

Thousands of them. I was really very touched.

"So many have been saying a Mass for me.

One thing you must never give up is your faith in God."

Wendy, who is bringing out a TV documentary on her cancer battle which is due to be screened in March on BBC3, added: "I've had messages of support from all the old EastEnders cast which I'm very grateful for.

"All my old Are You Being Served friends have also called me - Trevor Bannister, Mollie Sugden and Frank Thornton have been in touch.

"I've had cards from Fern Britton, Paul O'Grady and Frank Carson just to name a few.

"Their prayers and kind thoughts mean so much to me and lift me when I'm down.

"My message to Jade and everyone else in my position is simple: Keep plugging away, keep positive and look to the future.

"You have to have a positive attitude. There's no point giving in is there?

"I'm certainly not thinking about dying. Wendy Richard is going to be around a long time yet, I can tell you."

'I am NOT dying - I will be around for a long time yet'

[pearly queen]

Wendy seems most insistent that she's not dying. I really hope she won't die, but her constant repetition gives the impression that she's in denial.
Why bother giving that idiot Jade Goody any publicity, with her well-wishing? Maybe she's trying to shift attention from herself.
Anyway - get well soon, Wendy.

[RitaLittlewood]

I wonder what she thought of Jade cavorting on the beach in Tenerife weeks after chemo, kidney op and flu when the immune system's crap but looking remarkably healthy? I do get the impression Wendy is in denial as well. She just looks dreadful.

Patsy