Emma’s tips on coping with cancer

Remember you’re not alone. I can’t tell everyone they’re going to be okay, but hopefully they’ll pick up my book and think, ‘She’s survived it 10 times’.

No one knows your body like you do. If you sense something is wrong, push for answers.

There’s no medical evidence diet alone can cure cancer. A healthy diet is important, but over the years I gave up dairy, sugar, wheat, alcohol… and my smile disappeared at the same time.

Exercise is vital – it helps to prevent fatigue, sickness and other problems. I’d love nothing more than to say this wasn’t the case as I’m so lazy!

It’s okay to laugh – I’ve always had a dark sense of humour. I can’t control whether I get cancer, but I can control how I deal with it.

Writing has been my saviour. I cannot express how cathartic it is to write your thoughts down.

Always ask for help. People are incredible and kind and willing. I asked other mums at school for help with lifts to birthday parties etc. Being a control freak, I struggled with this in the beginning as I think I felt I was failing my kids because I couldn’t be there to do it. But I had to take a step back and face the fact that, by me asking for help, it meant my children didn’t miss out on anything.