‘I feel better than I have done for years’
TV presenter Trisha Goddard, 59 – a Good Morning Britain Health Star Awards judge – says she feels better than ever as she celebrates nine years cancer-free…
The GMB Health Star Awards were set up to reward people who have gone the extra mile to help someone’s health… Yes, it’s about rewarding the unsung heroes – those health service professionals that are sometimes taken for granted. It could be your nurse, doctor or even your dentist. One of last year’s runnersup was a hospital cleaner, because that was the person who so often had the time to talk… You’re on the judging panel; what made you want to get involved? When GMB contacted me I was just about to go and have all of my batteries tested. I was back in England (Trisha now lives in the USA) having my nine-year postbreast cancer check-up. It was a whole team who got me back on my feet, from nurses to my psychotherapist – even my dentist because chemotherapy completely wrecked my teeth. They do the job day in, day out. How does it feel to be cancer-free for nine years? Well I go through the same nervewracking test every year, and then I breathe out afterwards. I only recently found out that I had Grade Three cancer, you only take in so much at the time. But I’m healthy and I’m here and once you’ve been through something like that you don’t take anything for granted. Getting the diagnosis must have been devastating… You hear the words but you can’t believe it. You know the statistics, but I guess none of us think we will ever BE a statistic… I tried to focus on people who had got through it,
like Kylie Minogue. And I dealt with it by doing as much as normal, and working through my treatment.
You still kept your fitness up as well?
During my cancer treatment I’d still go running – and I can’t tell you how awful I felt. My little doggie would look after me, but the first 15 minutes would be horrific. I pushed myself because I don’t do “victim” and I don’t do “ill.” And it’s only recently I’ve taken any time off work.
You’ve also battled depression…
That was harder in some ways. Not as scary, but nobody really wants to talk about mental health – they always lower their eyes. My hospital room when I was going through breast cancer was like a florist; not so much when I was going through depression.
You have a big birthday coming up this year, do you feel 60?
Nah! I feel better now than I have for years. I virtually gave up alcohol in October 2015. I drink when I go out but I tend not to at home. I keep wondering, when is this “oldness” coming?
You look fab; how are you fighting the ageing process?
People say to me: “You’re so lucky to look like that,” and I say: “You know what, every single day I run between five and seven miles, whatever the weather.” You come and be lucky with me! It helps me feel alive.
How do you like to wind down?
I’m mad keen on reading. If I don’t have a book in my pile I get neurotic; all of my family are bookworms. I also like being outside – I walk and hike. We’ve got a place up in the mountains near the Canadian border. I’m very outdoorsy; you can’t live in Norfolk all those years and not be. By Hannah Wright ● Trisha Goddard is a judge for Good Morning Britain’s Health Star awards. Watch highlights from the awards on ITV from 6am on Tues 25 Apr