British singer Sarah Harding, 39, and former member of the group Girls Aloud, has said she was told by a doctor the Christmas just gone would probably be her last.
She revealed in August last year that she had been diagnosed with an advanced-stage breast cancer, which had spread to other parts of her body.
"Nothing is certain any more," the singer told The Times on Saturday. "I'm just grateful to wake up every day and live my best life, because now I know just how precious it is."
The Times published an extract of Harding's upcoming memoir Hear Me Out, in which she makes the revelation.
“In December my doctor told me that the upcoming Christmas would probably be my last,” she writes in the book, adding that she is “trying to live and enjoy every second of my life, however long it might be”.
“I am having a glass of wine or two during all this, because it helps me relax,” she added. “I’m sure some people might think that’s not a great idea, but I want to try to enjoy myself. I’m at a stage now where I don’t know how many months I have left.”
Harding said she delayed having to a see a doctor because of the pandemic.
“At first I thought it was just a cyst. The trouble was the pain was getting worse. It got so bad that I couldn't sleep in a bed. Eventually my skin started to bruise. By now I was terrified,” she writes.
“One day I woke up realising I'd been in denial. Yes there was a pandemic but it was almost as if I'd been using that as an excuse not to face up to the fact that something was very wrong.”
Hi everyone! I hope you are keeping safe and as well as possible with everything that’s going on. I know I’m not really that present on here which I promise I’ll try to get a bit better at, as honestly it means the world to me when I come on and see all your well wishes. pic.twitter.com/GQ3Ylc8QFh
— Sarah Harding (@SarahNHarding) February 22, 2021
The singer shot to fame in 2002 as part of UK talent show Popstars: the Rivals, which led to the formation of Girls Aloud with four others: Cheryl Tweedy, Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh. Their debut single, Sound of the Underground, topped the UK charts that year. The group went on to achieve a string of 20 consecutive top 10 singles in the UK, including four No 1s, until their split in 2013.
Harding also starred in long-running British series Coronation Street. In 2017, she won the reality show Celebrity Big Brother.
Harding's bandmate Tweedy said she “lost it and started crying” when she found out about the cancer diagnosis over FaceTime.
"I tried to move the phone out of the way so she couldn't see my face," Tweedy was quoted in The Times as saying. "The mad thing is, it ended up with Sarah comforting me."
Roberts also showed her support for her former bandmate. “Calling her brave isn’t enough. This is so much more than bravery,” she posted on Instagram.
“This woman is incredible. The strength she is showing right now blows my mind daily,” Walsh said on Instagram.
"Thinking of you Sarah. Please stay strong and keep fighting. Love from all of us,” singer Peter Andre wrote.
'Hear Me Out' is scheduled to be released on Thursday, March 18
