Come together to beat Big C

Look at my whopping gong!

I AM writing this week’s column as the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award.

I was honoured with the gong at the Paul Raymond Awards last week and I was absolutely blown away that I was chosen!

I knew I was getting it for a few months but I had to keep it a secret, so I’m glad the cat is finally out of the bag.

Can you believe I am the first woman to ever receive the accolade? Which is why I am especially proud.

It is living on the windowsill in my front room at the moment, I WASN’T shocked when I read an article which said pancreatic cancer will officially be the third most deadly form of the disease by 2017.

As most of you know, my mum passed away from pancreatic cancer and I have said so many times that we need to dedicate more time and money into raising the profile of the disease.

It is set to overtake breast cancer to take third place as the form of cancer which claims the most lives in the UK – after lung and bowel cancer – and I really can’t say I am surprised.

Breast cancer has had so much publicity and money dedicated to it over the past decade – deservedly so.

And that’s done amazing things to improve the chances of patient recovery by encouraging people to check themselves and be aware of the signs and symptoms for an early diagnosis.

Now we need to do the until my office upstairs is finished where it will take pride of place.

It is such an amazing feeling to know that all my years of hard work haven’t gone unnoticed and that my peers and other people within the industry recognise my achievements.

This is the fourth award I’ve won to date, but nothing will ever top this one! I feel like this means I’ve reached the top of my game now.

Don’t worry though, I won’t be calling time on my career anytime soon! same for other types of cancer that are less well known – like pancreatic cancer, which has the lowest survival rates.

It doesn’t have the same obvious symptoms – unlike breast cancer there is no visible lump to be spotted, and in most cases it can stay hidden until it’s reached the late stages and often, by then, it is too late.

So we really need to come together and raise the profile of this disease and bring it to the public’s attention so that, hopefully, less people have their lives torn apart like I did when I lost my dear old mum. CHUFFED: Me with award NOT long to go now until the best reality show of the lot is back on our screens! starts this Sunday and after the official line-up was announced this week I actually think it could be the best year yet! For once the casting people seem to have pulled their finger out and actually signed up people we have all heard of! I have not picked a clear winner yet though, as I want to see how everyone gets on when they first enter the camp. Don’t miss next week’s column and I’ll let you know who I’m tipping to be crowned the King or Queen of the jungle for 2016!