Actress and Singer Joanna brings WOW to August and my summer blog.

At 21 years old most of us are partying, out with friends and living life without a care. For Joanna everything was about to change as she was diagnosed with breast cancer. I can’t imagine how a young woman feels facing cancer but Joanna now 34 is full of passion and positivity. So here, today, Joanna shares her amazing story of life aftercancer and how she intends to give back!

Joanna can you share with my guests how you managed to cope with your diagnosis at just 21?

I think my main coping mechanism was to be totally and utterly secretive about my illness. At 21 I was still finding out who I was and wanted to fit in with everyone else my age. This was such an unusual and alien thing to be happening I just wanted to keep it to myself. I didn’t have the energy to keep explaining to everyone what was happening and cope with their very bizarre reactions. I kept a very low profile with my family and was able to talk and share everything with my friend Lucy. That was enough. I hated being around people, but that hasn’t lasted I’m pleased to say. I also had a strong feeling of wanting to desperately hold on to my career.I may have only been 21, but I had been working professionally since I was 11 years old, I had been very successful as my stage school, Italia Conti, getting picked for lead roles and appearing on tv and in the west end. I had won the Italia Conti singing award and the School Rooms award and I didn’t want all that to slip away and be affected. I was worried people would think I wasn’t up to a job, that I would be unemployable and I knew a cancer diagnosis would mean lots of missed opportunities for me.

What mattered to you at the time?

What mattered most at the time was getting better. However like most 21 year olds, especially a 21 year old working in the entertainment industry, I wanted to look good. I was horrified at the thought of potentially losing my hair and I hoped the radiotherapy and chemotherapy would have no lasting effects on my health. I was very lucky though that as I embarked on my treatment, my little brother Samuel was born. This was excellent timing for me as my days spent feeling the side affects of all the drugs could now be filled with spending time with Sam and as a result we have a great bond. He doesn’t know how important he was to me at that time, but he was a huge help!

How has your life changed since your diagnosis and successful treatment?

I would like to think it hasn’t changed from the point of view it has not stopped me doing anything I want to. I hope other women who may be reading this and have had a cancer diagnosis will hold onto their dreams and know nothing has to change!

You told me you wanted to keep your diagnosis a secret, hide it from people but it all changed when you hit 30. Can you tell us more about the decision to speak up and be heard?

I have had to share dressing rooms on many occasions in shows, and I always used to dread being asked what my huge scar is from. I would often just say I would tell them later, and hope that later would never come and they would forget. When I was going through it, there was no Internet to search for answers or connect with anyone else going through the same thing. I didn’t talk about it ever and found it hard to, as those bizarre and difficult to cope with reactions never seemed to change. If I did decide to speak out, I would always regret it. However my feelings changed when unfortunately an amazing friend of mine passed away from breast cancer, but she told me while she was still alive that it was a huge help for her to ask me about my experience, and when another friend unfortunately got diagnosed I knew I had to share everything with her. Now I will freely speak to people I come across who are going through it or have someone close to then who is going through and I love how much this can help, I never wanted it to define me, and now I am much older at 34 I have had so many more life experiences, I know I can’t define me.

What are you most proud of in your life?

I would say to anyone going through treatment for cancer please be proud of yourself for dealing with the difficulties it presents and don’t let the stigma of cancer make you feel like you can’t speak up and express what you are going through or have been through. Now I am proud of dealing with the cancer hurdle and how I got my confidence levels up to start auditioning again. I went from wanting no-one to look at me, to constantly standing in front of strangers either singing, acting or dancing and let them scrutinise me and judge me.

Yes there are many disappointments and rejections in my line of work, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m always so thankful to have the opportunity to fulfill my passions.

You love giving back, what are your exciting plans with Breakthrough Breast Cancer?

I was so incredibly lucky with the wonderful treatment and care I received, that I feel now I want to do something in return. Breakthrough Breast Cancer is an amazing charity and it’s so important that they are able to continue to do their fantastic work. I’m working on a project with them that will hopefully raise awareness of Brest Cancer in young women and raise money for Breakthrough. Singing had always been my thing and I thought an album for Breakthrough Breast Cancer would be a great idea. It’s still in the very early planning stages but we have got some exciting things planned for it. Totally watch this space and I will keep you posted. I will be tweeting about it, folllow me @joannaforest – I hope lots of people will buy the album and help Breakthrough.

Dreams can and do come true and apart from the obvious one of living a full and wonderful life, what else do you dream about having in your life?

That’s a lovely question!! I agree dreams can definitely come true. My dreams seem to change daily! I don’t think it matters what your dreams are as long as you still do dream.

What has your experience taught you, what positives can you take from it?

It’s taught me that you must lead the life you want to leave. It took me a while to get re- established with my career and I felt like I was constantly having to justify my decision to want to work as an actress and not be persuaded to go along any other career avenues. I know some of my successful peers at the time had lost faith in me and my abilities, but I also learned even if other people under estimate me I would never underestimate myself. I think I take that mentality quietly into all areas of my life now.

What are your plans for the future and your career?

I want to work on lovely projects and to keep meeting and working with interesting people.

What advice would you give a young woman who finds a lump in her breast?

Go to your doctor straight away without a delay or hesitation. I was assured by my GP, the surgeon and the sonographer that I had nothing to worry about. I was just so lucky that I decided to have my lump removed before I knew it was cancer . Yes it’s unlikely you will have breast cancer as a young women but it IS a possibility, I am proof of that. So check your breasts and if you do find a lump absolutely get yourself checked out thoroughly.

Thanks so much for your story Joanna and for being WOW. Your positivity and passion for spreading a very important message that cancer does affect younger people and touch their lives. Just imagine this blog post may save a life and that’s a most wonderful thing!

More blog posts will be coming on our final 3 weeks of Summer of Women’s Cancer Support…Come back soon and do leave a comment!

Jayne x

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