Mum-of-three Heather Glover may be facing her last Christmas, as her breast cancer has returned for a third time, but she is singing in the face of adversity
Humour has been the best medicine for Heather Glover and her family throughout the nine years she has been fighting breast cancer.
Still bold and beautiful at 54, as she faces triple negative breast cancer for the third time, the mum-of-three vows this Christmas will be no different – even though it might be her last.
She says: “I don’t know what the future is going to hold for me – and I don’t know whether it will be my last Christmas. I’m always incredibly positive, but I have to be realistic too.”
Heather, recently retired from her job as a nurse working at various hospitals near her Macclesfield home.
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She has recruited a team of around 20 of her fellow medics, along with her daughter Megan, to help her make a tongue-in-cheek version of The 12 Days of Christmas to raise money for the cancer charity Maggie’s.
Looking fabulous in red satin pyjamas, she laughs, alongside her pals, as they sing about 12 days of treatment – substituting words like ‘six geese a-laying’ for ‘six nurses a-nursing,’ and ‘four calling birds’ for ‘four junior doctors.’
This slightly gallows humour is typical of Heather, who has always laughed in the face of cancer. She says of the song: “It’s a playful take on cancer treatment and aims to raise spirits of those going through treatment. It shows that even while facing this illness, there’s still room for laughter and positivity.
“The treatment and side effects endured by us all going through it – the hospital visits, the medications and the ups and downs – can be exhausting and emotionally draining. So I want the song to lift people’s spirits this Christmas just a little bit, and spread some joy.”
It’s not the first time that Heather has gone out on a limb to elevate the mood of those facing breast cancer. She has contributed to Sex and the Titty – a frequently humorous podcast about the impact of chemotherapy on women’s sex life – and took part in a lingerie shoot to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
Heather was first diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer when she was 45. Then the following year, on New Year’s Eve 2018, she discovered it was back. She had surgery and chemotherapy and, after five years, was able to celebrate the all clear with her family.
But in October last year she was looking forward to throwing herself into festive activities in the run up to Christmas, when she developed a niggly chest pain. It was confirmed that the cancer had returned and this time it had spread to her chest bones and lymph glands.
Heather, who lives with husband Rich, 61, a driving instructor and children Sam, 26, Hatty, 20, and Megan, 25, says: “Instead of getting my Christmas shopping done, eating mince pies and drinking mulled wine like I was planning, I had to start chemotherapy straight away. I was still having treatment on Christmas Eve so it wasn’t a nice way to spend Christmas. This year, despite my diagnosis, I’m determined to have a great time. We have planned a big party for family and friends on Christmas Eve.”
But knowing her cancer is now incurable, she has also made some low-key preparations for the future. “I’ve given bits of my jewellery to my children – I wanted to give them those treasured items while I was still alive, and I’m planning a really special Christmas surprise for them this year,” she says, refusing to reveal what it is, so as not to ruin it.
No one could be prouder of Heather’s indomitable sense of fun, than her family. Megan, who sang on the Twelve Days of Treatment song, which was recorded at the Maggie’s centre in Manchester, and took three hours to film, says: “Being involved in the making of this song was amazing. It was so much fun and I love the meaning behind it, bringing joy to a sad situation. Mum is such an amazing woman. She’s fought this from the very first day to hold our family together.”
Heather’s husband Rich adds: “We are so proud of Heather. She never gives up and she keeps all the family strong and together. It’s very easy to give up after a diagnosis like this, but she never lets any of us give up on her. I’ve never met a woman like her.”
The song also resonates with Heather’s close friend Paula Allen, a former colleague. Paula, 53, a doctor, who is also one of the singers, says: “I’ve been friends with Heather for a long time, and she and my late husband Mark went to the hospice together when he was fighting cancer at the same time. This is typical Heather. She’s bold and sassy and she’s not taking it lying down. She’s hellbent on doing everything in her power to stay here.”
To donate to Maggie’s go to: https://www.justgiving.com/page/heath-g
The Twelve Days of Treatment
On the first day of treatment my doctor gave to me:
A smile and a pot to pee.
On the second day of treatment my doctor gave to me : 2 vomit bowls, and a smile and a pot to pee
On the third day of treatment my doctor gave to me: 3 needles jabbing, 2 vomit bowls, and a smile and a pot to pee
On the fourth day of treatment my doctor gave to me 4 junior doctors, 3 needles jabbing, 2 vomit bowls, and a smile and a pot to pee
On the fifth day of treatment my doctor gave to me 5 golden pills (as if I have a choice) 4 junior doctors, 3, needles jabbing, 2 vomit bowls, and a smile and a pot to pee
On the sixth day of treatment my doctor gave to me 6 nurses nursing, 5 golden pills (as if I have a choice) 4 junior doctors, 3 needles jabbing, 2 vomit bowls, and a smile and a pot to pee
On the seventh day of treatment my doctor gave to me 7 drips a dripping, 6 nurses nursing, 5 golden pills (as if I have a choice) 4 junior doctors, 3 needles jabbing, 2 vomit bowls, and a smile and a pot to pee
On the eighth day of treatment my doctor gave to me 8 stingy ulcers, 7 drips a dripping, 6 nurses nursing, 5 golden pills (as if I have a choice) 4 junior doctors, 3 needles jabbing, 2 vomit bowls, and a smile and a pot to pee
On the ninth day of treatment my doctor gave to me 9 wigs a-itching, 8 stingy ulcers, 7 drips a dripping, 6 nurses nursing, 5 golden pills (as if I have a choice) 4 junior doctors, 3 needles jabbing, 2 vomit bowls, and a smile and a pot to pee
On the tenth day of treatment my doctor gave to me 10 drains a draining, 9 wigs a-itching, 8 stingy ulcers, 7 drips a dripping, 6 nurses nursing, 5 golden pills (as if I have a choice) 4 junior doctors, 3 needles jabbing, 2 vomit bowls, and a smile and a pot to pee
On the eleventh day of treatment my doctor gave to me 11 scan results, 10 drains a draining, 9 wigs a-itching, 8 stingy ulcers, 7 drips a dripping, 6 nurses nursing, 5 golden pills (as if I have a choice) 4 junior doctors, 3 needles jabbing, 2 vomit bowls, and A smile and a pot to pee
On the twelfth day of treatment my doctor gave to me 12 Bells a ringing, 11 scan results, 10 drains a draining, 9 wigs a-itching, 8 stingy ulcers, 7 drips a dripping, 6 nurses nursing, 5 golden pills (as if I have a choice) 4 junior doctors, 3 needles jabbing, 2 vomit bowls, and the best Maggie’s Family!
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