Girls Aloud’s Sarah Harding reveals she’s been diagnosed with breast cancer
Girls Aloud’s Sarah Harding, 38, reveals she is battling ‘advanced’ breast cancer which has ‘spread to other parts of her body’ as she says ‘I’m fighting as hard as I can’
- The Girls Aloud star, 38, revealed the news in an Instagram post on Wednesday
- Sarah is currently undergoing weekly chemotherapy treatment for the disease
- In her emotional post, she told fans: ‘a couple of weeks ago I received the devastating news that the cancer has advanced to other parts of my body’
- Sarah’s post was soon flooded with comments of support, including her bandmate Cheryl, who tweeted a heartbreak emoji
- Sarah had last posted on Instagram in April, but had been relatively absent from social media for two years
- It was reported last year she had quit fame followed a failed musical comeback
- Her last TV appearance was in 2017 on Celebrity Big Brother, where she sparked up a romance with US reality star Chad Johnson, but they split weeks later
- Sarah first rose to prominence in 2002 as a member of pop band Girls Aloud, before the group split in 2013
- If you have been affected by this story, call Macmillan Cancer Support on 0808 808 00 00
Published: 06:16 EDT, 26 August 2020 | Updated: 08:14 EDT, 26 August 2020
Sarah Harding has revealed she’s been diagnosed with ‘advanced’ breast cancer.
The Girls Aloud singer and former wild child, 38, revealed her shocking diagnosis to fans on Instagram on Wednesday alongside a snap taken from her hospital bed, and emotionally vowed that she was ‘fighting as hard as she could’ after the cancer ‘spread to other parts of her body.’
Sarah was known for her wild nights out as a member of pop band Girls Aloud, and her life was fraught with love affairs and drama, including a rehab stint in 2011.
Sad: Girls Aloud’s Sarah Harding has revealed she’s been diagnosed with breast cancer and it has spread to ‘other parts of her body’
Beloved: The singer is best known as a member of the British pop band Girls Aloud (pictured centre with L-R Nadine Coyle, Kimberley Walsh, Nicola Roberts and Cheryl in 2009)
She wrote: ‘Hi everyone, I hope you are all keeping safe and well during these uncertain times. I’ve not posted on here for so long, thank you to everyone who has reached out to check in on me, it really does mean a lot.
‘I feel now is the right time to share what’s been going on. There’s no easy way to say this and actually it doesn’t even feel real writing this, but here goes.
‘Earlier this year I was diagnosed with breast cancer and a couple of weeks ago I received the devastating news that the cancer has advanced to other parts of my body.’
Tragic: Sarah took to Instagram on Tuesday to reveal her diagnosis, and told fans she’d been battling the disease for several months with weekly chemotherapy sessions
Kind: In her post Sarah credited her ‘amazing’ mum Marie (pictured in 2013), her close friends and NHS staff with supporting her through her health battle
Sarah continued: ‘I’m currently undergoing weekly chemotherapy sessions and I am fighting as hard as I possibly can. I understand this might be shocking to read on social media and that really isn’t my intention.
‘But last week it was mentioned online that I had been seen in hospital, so I feel now is the time to let people know what’s going on and this is the best way I can think of to do so.
‘My amazing mum, family and close friends are helping me through this, and I want to say a thank you to the wonderful NHS doctors and nurses who have been and continue to be heroes.
‘I am doing my very best to keep positive and will keep you updated here with how I’m getting on. In the meantime I hope you’ll all understand and respect my request for privacy during this difficult time. Sending you all so much love….xx.’
Distant: Sarah has been relatively absent from social media for the past two years, though did briefly return to Instagram in May (pictured in January 2018)
Sarah’s post was soon flooded with supportive comments from fans, with bandmate Cheryl posting a love heart emoji.
Nadine Coyle also tweeted: ‘I love you!!! You have always been able to achieve miracles when needed!! I am here for the all the way & always will be!!!’
Steps Ian ‘H’ Watkins also wrote: ‘Sending HUGE ❤️❤️❤️ Stay Strong xx We’re all behind you xx.’
TOWIE’s Jess Wright also responded with a flurry of heart emojis, while singer Michelle Gayle wrote: ‘Love you honey. xxx’
Support: Sarah’s post was soon flooded with messages, with bandmates Cheryl (top) and Nadine Coyle offering their support
Moving: Following Sarah’s announcement, a flurry of stars rushed to share their support
Bob Geldof’s daughter Fifi wrote: ‘Oh my angel… I’m so sorry to hear this awful news!!!
Fight hard and look after yourself – please shout if I can help at all. Much love to you.’
Choreographer Arthur Gourounlian – who is married to Big Brother star Brian Dowling – commented: ‘Je suit désolé. This is braking my heart. Sending you all my love and here for you always, stay strong and stay positive ma cherie.’
X Factor star and Sarah’s Celebrity Big Brother housemate Amelia Lily penned: ‘Hope you’re OK Sarah, keep fighting thinking of you and sending you lots of love.’
Great British Bake Off star Candice Brown added: ‘Sending so much love to you.’
Hollyoaks star Gemma Merna also wrote: ‘Sending you lots of love Sarah,’ along with a love heart emoji.
On a break: It was reported late last year that Sarah had ‘quit fame’ and gone into hiding following an unsuccessful music comeback
Sarah’s Instagram post in full
Hi everyone, I hope you are all keeping safe and well during these uncertain times.
I’ve not posted on here for so long, thank you to everyone who has reached out to check in on me, it really does mean a lot.
I feel now is the right time to share what’s been going on. There’s no easy way to say this and actually it doesn’t even feel real writing this, but here goes.
Earlier this year I was diagnosed with breast cancer and a couple of weeks ago I received the devastating news that the cancer has advanced to other parts of my body.
I’m currently undergoing weekly chemotherapy sessions and I am fighting as hard as I possibly can. I understand this might be shocking to read on social media and that really isn’t my intention.
But last week it was mentioned online that I had been seen in hospital, so I feel now is the time to let people know what’s going on and this is the best way I can think of to do so.
My amazing mum, family and close friends are helping me through this, and I want to say a thank you to the wonderful NHS doctors and nurses who have been and continue to be heroes.
I am doing my very best to keep positive and will keep you updated here with how I’m getting on.
In the meantime I hope you’ll all understand and respect my request for privacy during this difficult time. Sending you all so much love….xx
Sarah has maintained a low profile in recent years and changed her Twitter bio to read ‘taking a timeout’ last year.
In May she returned to the social media for the first time since July 2019, sparking a delighted reaction from fans, as shared a series of tweets after ex Chad Johnson claimed last year that ‘nobody has really heard from her.’
In April, her ex-boyfriend Chad said that he doesn’t know where she is and nobody has ‘really heard from her.’
They embarked on a brief romance after meeting in the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2017, but split after struggling with the long-distance aspect of their relationship.
It was reported late last year that Sarah had ‘quit fame’ and gone into hiding following an unsuccessful music comeback.
A source claimed the star no longer has a manager or publicist, and her Twitter and Instagram accounts had been scarcely used.
They also told The Mirror: ‘She has nothing going on work-wise right now and hasn’t had anything in quite a while.’
Following Sarah’s announcement, the Loose Women panel offered their own words of support, while also reflecting on their own experiences with cancer.
Carol McGiffin – who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 – admitted the hardest moment came when she had to tell loved ones about her diagnosis.
She said: ‘I really feel for Sarah it is the hardest thing, its hard enough getting the diagnosis you get used to that but then you tell other people.
‘I told my family and close friends but with every one of them I had to really think about it so for her to tell the world on a public forum I really feel for her. it is difficult, when I told Denise it was difficult.’
Denise Welch added: ‘I remember we met carol for a drink… she looked fit and well and then she said she had breast cancer, and I burst into tears.
‘I felt bad because she wasn’t and was saying it’s alright babes it’s alright… I was passionately proud of how she dealt with everything with her treatment and recovery.’
Carol candidly said: ‘It really is, it’s a non-start if you like with family and friends and it just doesn’t get any easier, especially now with what’s going on.
‘Sarah is in hospital she’s getting treatment, I wish her so much love and I do know where she’s coming from. telling the world, she will be bombarded, people mean well but it is hard. people find it really hard to deal with it.’
Carol added: ‘You never say ”oh you’re lucky its only breast cancer,” it’s never easy but if you catch it early you can get through it.’
Kaye Adams said: ‘I don’t know Sarah Harding, I don’t want to be insensitive talking about someone’s experiences with cancer. when my grandma was diagnosed with cancer a long time ago she didn’t say the word, she called it the big C, so while I feel bad bringing it up…
‘Sarah has said she is receiving the best treatment and has paid tribute to the staff who are treating her.’
Carol said: ‘It was exceptional, they offered advice. It was easy, if you like, for me but if everyone knew I was going through that and you’d have to tell people and people would always come up to you it makes it hard and it’s hard for people to keep talking about it.’
Kaye ended the discussion by saying: ‘Sarah our thoughts are genuinely with you.’
Pals: Sarah rose to prominence in 2002 when she became a member of the pop band Girls Aloud, through talent series Popstars: The Rivals (pictured at the time)
From being the hellraiser of the nation’s biggest girl group to CBB champion and stepping away from the spotlight: The colourful life of popstar party girl Sarah Harding as she announces shock cancer battle
As the singer announced her breast cancer battle on Wednesday, MailOnline takes a look at the singer’s life throughout the years, which has seen her top the music charts, become known for her party girl image, win Celebrity Big Brother, and battle depression and alcohol addiction.
Sarah Harding shot to fame as one fifth of uber-successful girl group, Girls Aloud, formed on 2002 reality show, Popstars: The Rivals.
She was raised with her two half brothers in Ascot, Berkshire and following in her musician dad John Hardman’s footsteps by striking up an interest in performing from an early age.
Throwback: After studying hair and beauty at Stockport College, the media personality worked many jobs before finding her feet as an artist (pictured in 2002)
Party: Dubbed ‘Hardcore Harding’ and referred to as the ‘caner’ of the group the star was often photographed swigging from whisky bottles and stumbling out of nightclubs (pictured 2004)
After studying hair and beauty at Stockport College, the media personality worked many jobs before finding her feet as an artist – including jobs as a nightclub promoter, a Pizza Hut waitress, a van driver, a debt collector and even a BT telephone operator.
She finally pursued her musical passion in her early 20s when she auditioned for both Fame Academy and Popstars: The Rivals in 2002, before getting her shot at stardom on the ITV show.
Winning a place in the band as a fresh-faced 21-year-old alongside Cheryl Tweedy, Nicola Roberts, Kimberley Walsh and Nadine Coyle, she was catapulted into the limelight when they scooped the Christmas number one single with Sound of the Underground.
The musician toured the nation as part of the UK’s biggest girl bands from 2002 until 2013 and quickly became known for her party girl image as well her her hits.
Dubbed ‘Hardcore Harding’ by her band mates and referred to as the ‘caner’ of the group the star was often photographed swigging from whisky bottles and stumbling out of nightclubs.
In 2007 she was photographed swigging from a bottle of scotch whisky after the NME Awards in London and, at a separate event that year, appeared a little worse for wear as she stumbled around on the phone while holding a champagne glass.
When she wasn’t hitting up the capital’s A-list haunts like Mahiki and Gilgamesh or attending London Fashion Week, Sarah was partying in Ibiza with her then DJ boyfriend Tom Crane and friends.
After splitting with fiance Tom in September 2011, Sarah described herself as hitting ‘rock bottom’.
This concerned her band mates Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts who recommended she seek professional help.
Hard times: Describing herself as ‘such a mess’, in October 2011 Sarah spent a stint in a US clinic to battle alcohol and sleeping pill addiction (pictured in 2005)
Describing herself as ‘such a mess’, from October that year Sarah spent a stint in a US clinic to battle alcohol and sleeping pill addiction.
‘I’ve been told by those close to me that was when I hit my worst,’ she said.
‘I was crying hysterically. I felt ashamed, embarrassed, terrified – my emotions were all over the place.’
In July 2009, Girls Aloud took a hiatus to pursue other projects, which lasted until 2012.
Throughout their ten year reign in the charts, Girls Aloud were dogged by rumours of secret feuds within the band, with Cheryl, Nicola and Kimberley forming a notably closer bond.
On the mend: Sarah admitted she was ‘crying hysterically’ when she hit rock bottom before entering rehab (pictured following her rehab stint)
Nadine has previously claimed their split was due to the friction between them because she was given more lines to sing – although she has since ended her feud with Kimberley.
Kimberley has also said to MailOnline in November 2019: Cheryl, Nicola and I… we were just very close. I just don’t click with the other girls.
‘There is honestly no rift, we just didn’t click in the same way with Nadine and Sarah that we’d want to see each other every week. It was more that we were work friends.’
Alongside her singing career with the band, Sarah pursued acting and appeared in the St Trinian’s films and Run For Your Wife alongside Danny Dyer.
In 2015, Sarah embarked on her own solo career, releasing Threads, which failed to chart.
That year she also appeared in Coronation Street as Joni Preston, the wife of Robert Preston, with the star making a number of guest appearances in the summer.
She also competed on BBC gymnastics show Tumble in 2014 where she placed third and Celebrity MasterChef in 2015.
In 2016 she competed on Channel 4 series The Jump but had to withdraw after tearing a ligament in her knee during a training session.
The star also appeared in a UK tour of Ghost The Musical but was replaced midway through the run after pulling out due to her painful The Jump injury.
In August 2017, Sarah was one of the more high-profile names to join the 20th series of Celebrity Big Brother, which she won.
The star set tongues wagging on the show with her steamy romance with American reality star Chad Johnson, which ended acrimoniously shortly afterwards. The media personality has maintained a low profile in recent years and changed her Twitter bio to read ‘taking a timeout’ last year.
In April, her ex-boyfriend Chad, 33, said that he doesn’t know where she is and nobody has ‘really heard from her’ after it was reported last year she had ‘quit fame’ to go into hiding.
In May, she returned to the social media for the first time since July 2019, sparking a delighted reaction from fans, as shared a series of tweets after ex Chad Johnson claimed that ‘nobody has really heard from her’.
The artist’s first post showed a gif of a T-Rex reaching out his arms saying: ‘I miss you this much’.
Captioning the tweet, she penned: ‘Lmfao….@taskmaster….#splatchat’ with several prayer hand emojis.
Following her initial dinosaur inspired post, the blonde beauty was met with comments from delighted fans who missed her during her ‘timeout.’
The songstress then replied to fans: ‘Fankooo lovelies. Missed you all…. Hope Ur all well and staying safe xxx’
And she was not done there, the Promise singer then celebrated by Star Wars Day by adding ‘#MayThe4thBeWithYou,’ before telling fans she was a ‘new found fan girl’ of the franchise.
Finally, Sarah retweeted a post from a Girls Aloud fan that said: ’15 years ago today #GirlsAloud opened up their amazing debut Tour ‘What Will The Neighbours Say?’. What’s your favourite track from the album?’
If you have been affected by this story, call Macmillan Cancer Support on 0808 808 00 00.
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and affects more than two MILLION women a year
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Each year in the UK there are more than 55,000 new cases, and the disease claims the lives of 11,500 women. In the US, it strikes 266,000 each year and kills 40,000. But what causes it and how can it be treated?
What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer develops from a cancerous cell which develops in the lining of a duct or lobule in one of the breasts.
When the breast cancer has spread into surrounding breast tissue it is called an ‘invasive’ breast cancer. Some people are diagnosed with ‘carcinoma in situ’, where no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobule.
Most cases develop in women over the age of 50 but younger women are sometimes affected. Breast cancer can develop in men though this is rare.
Staging means how big the cancer is and whether it has spread. Stage 1 is the earliest stage and stage 4 means the cancer has spread to another part of the body.
The cancerous cells are graded from low, which means a slow growth, to high, which is fast growing. High grade cancers are more likely to come back after they have first been treated.
What causes breast cancer?
A cancerous tumour starts from one abnormal cell. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. It is thought that something damages or alters certain genes in the cell. This makes the cell abnormal and multiply ‘out of control’.
Although breast cancer can develop for no apparent reason, there are some risk factors that can increase the chance of developing breast cancer, such as genetics.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast, although most breast lumps are not cancerous and are fluid filled cysts, which are benign.
The first place that breast cancer usually spreads to is the lymph nodes in the armpit. If this occurs you will develop a swelling or lump in an armpit.
How is breast cancer diagnosed?
- Initial assessment: A doctor examines the breasts and armpits. They may do tests such as a mammography, a special x-ray of the breast tissue which can indicate the possibility of tumours.
- Biopsy: A biopsy is when a small sample of tissue is removed from a part of the body. The sample is then examined under the microscope to look for abnormal cells. The sample can confirm or rule out cancer.
If you are confirmed to have breast cancer, further tests may be needed to assess if it has spread. For example, blood tests, an ultrasound scan of the liver or a chest x-ray.
How is breast cancer treated?
Treatment options which may be considered include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment. Often a combination of two or more of these treatments are used.
- Surgery: Breast-conserving surgery or the removal of the affected breast depending on the size of the tumour.
- Radiotherapy: A treatment which uses high energy beams of radiation focussed on cancerous tissue. This kills cancer cells, or stops cancer cells from multiplying. It is mainly used in addition to surgery.
- Chemotherapy: A treatment of cancer by using anti-cancer drugs which kill cancer cells, or stop them from multiplying
- Hormone treatments: Some types of breast cancer are affected by the ‘female’ hormone oestrogen, which can stimulate the cancer cells to divide and multiply. Treatments which reduce the level of these hormones, or prevent them from working, are commonly used in people with breast cancer.
How successful is treatment?
The outlook is best in those who are diagnosed when the cancer is still small, and has not spread. Surgical removal of a tumour in an early stage may then give a good chance of cure.
The routine mammography offered to women between the ages of 50 and 70 mean more breast cancers are being diagnosed and treated at an early stage.
For more information visit breastcancercare.org.uk or www.cancerhelp.org.uk
