AN ACTRESS who beat cancer is looking to put a smile on faces as she runs to help fight the disease.
Zoe Hilson, from Angmering, is best known for her appearances alongside Judi Dench in As Time Goes By, and David Jason in A Touch of Frost.
The star was shocked when she was diagnosed with stage-four lymphoma in November 2018.
But she has now finished her treatment, despite initial fears, and says the experience has given her new material to work with.
The 50-year-old is currently writing comedy sketches, while recovering from chemotherapy, and has also joined Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life.
The mother-of-two will run alongside husband Steve and daughters Tassia, 21 and Blaise, 15.
Zoe said: “When I was diagnosed, I couldn’t help but write about the funny side of it.
“I also think it helps people not to be so afraid.
“Initially, I was devastated – it really does feel like a death sentence when you get that news.
“I was particularly shocked because I was so well and fit.
“I didn’t smoke and I hadn’t had any symptoms.
“The cancer had spread around my body – to my kidney, breast and lungs – and that was terrifying.
“But what I didn’t know then was that there have been such advances in the treatment of cancer in the last couple of decades, that immunotherapy was going to get me through it.
“My dad had bladder cancer 18 years ago and died from it. But that is curable now.
“I’ve been amazingly lucky and am so grateful for the research that has basically saved my life.
“And that’s not a miracle – it’s years of research that has led to new, more effective treatments.”
The chemo caused Zoe to lose all her hair, and energy, and she even developed sepsis – an experience she said was particularly scary.
She said: “When I looked in the mirror, I didn’t recognise myself. I lost my tennis arms and all my muscle mass and I began wearing wigs.
“But now I’m exercising again, although I’m being super-careful. I’ve still got my bald head – which my girls like.
“And they often do my make-up for me.
“While I was on those long stays in hospital, my daughters gave me an iPad and downloaded lots of programmes for me to watch, so I now have the viewing habits of a teenage girl.”
The Worthing Race For Life 5k takes place on June 16.
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