Having Cancer Made Me A Better Person

Julia Bradbury on the "positives" of a cancer diagnosis, her inspiring new book and the healing power of the natural world

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A cancer diagnosis is the news that none of us ever want to receive. Broadcaster and TV presenter Julia Bradbury spoke for us all when, on being told she had breast cancer in September 2021, said, "My world stopped".

A mastectomy to remove the six centimetre tumour then a breast reconstruction followed. Last year, she made a documentary, Julia Bradbury: Breast Cancer and Me, about her journey, and now she's written a book, Walk Yourself Happy: Find Your Path to Health and Healing in Nature, which focuses on our health and the natural world.

"Writing it felt like an opportunity to share what I've learnt about health particularly over the past two years," she said.

"While making the documentary, I discovered so much information about the lesser discussed topics surrounding cancer. Around 40% of cancers are preventable, and there are things you can do for your health to help you avoid it - or avoid recurrence.

"Your genes are not your destiny. You can take control.

Cancer profoundly changed my life. You never forget but you can try to convert the experience into something else and that's what I'm trying to do convert it into something positive." She's doing that all right.

In fact, Julia goes as far to say that she thinks having cancer has made her a better person.