Cancer journey inspires mum's book

Dance and drama teacher Jane Hoggar was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, at the age of 48. She underwent lumpectomy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, happily with a successful outcome.

As she prepared for her surgery, Jane searched unsuccessfully for a light-hearted book that was not too medical and would help her cope with the shock of breast cancer.

Jane said: “I couldn’t find anything that made me laugh or cheered me up.

“Chemo Summer is the book I needed at that time.”

Chemo Summer, has been published by Austin Macauley, and is available in Waterstones and from Amazon.

It is illustrated by Jane’s daughter, Holly Bishop, aged 25, who studied art at Tring School and Edinburgh College of Art.

Chemo Summergrew out of a diary and then a blog, which Holly encouraged Jane to write during her treatment, to keep friends and family up to date. The encouraging comments she received made Jane decide to turn the blog into a book.

Jane said:“I think my book is a much more useful present than chocolates or flowers for any friend or relative about to undergo treatment, as there are so many handy hints that I wish I had known before the treatment began and a few funny situations that I found myself in.”

The book is also designed to raise awareness of the importance of early diagnosis.

Any profits from the book will go to cancer-related charities, in memory of Jane’s best friend Hannah, who died of a brain tumour.