'I want to lift people's spirits this Christmas'

Heather Glover is determined not to let cancer ruin her Christmas and will also be spreading some festive cheer

- LUCY LAING

Humour has been the best medicine for Heather Glover and her family during her nine-year battle against breast cancer. And as she faces triple negative breast cancer for a third time, the mum-of-three vows this Christmas will also be filled with laughter.

Still bold and beautiful at 54, she says, “I don’t know whether it will be my last Christmas or what the future holds. I'm always incredibly positive, but I have to be realistic too.”

Heather, who recently retired as a nurse in Macclesfield, Cheshire – recruited around 20 fellow medics, and her daughter Megan, to help her record a tongue-in-cheek version of The Twelve Days Of Christmas to raise money for cancer charity Maggie's.

Looking fabulous in red satin pyjamas, she laughs alongside her pals as they sing about 12 days of treatment-substituting words like “six geese a-laying” for “six nurses nursing”, and “four calling birds” for “four junior doctors”.

Heather says, “It’s a playful take on cancer treatment and aims to raise the spirits of those having treatment. Even while facing this illness there's still room for laughter and positivity.

“The treatment and side effects – the hospital visits, the medications and the ups and downs – can be exhausting and emotionally draining. So I want the song to lift people's spirits this Christmas just a little bit, and spread some joy.”

It's not the first time Heather has tried to elevate the mood of breast cancer patients. She has contributed to Sex And The Titty – a podcast about the impact of chemotherapy on women’s sex life – and took part in a lingerie shoot for Valentine's Day.

NIGGLY CHEST PAIN