Doctors said all I needed was rest - in fact cancer was slowly killing me, says Delta Goodrem

 

Only those closest to Delta Goodrem knew of the toll the debilitating treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma took on the singer

 

A year after spotting the first symptoms of the cancer which left her fighting for her life, chart-topping singer and Neighbours actress Delta Goodrem, then 18, stole hearts with an emotional appearance at Australia's equivalent of the Brits.

 

Her glowing appearance belied her failing health as she collected a record-breaking seven awards at the ceremony in October 2003, showing off a glamorous off-the-shoulder pink dress and short, choppy hairstyle.

 

It was no secret that she was battling Hodgkin's lymphoma, a blood cancer prevalent in the 15 to 34 age group.

 

Elton John and the Australian Prime Minister John Howard were among the people who rang to offer their good wishes.

 

But only those closest to her knew of the toll the debilitating treatment, which began in July 2003 and lasted a year - including nearly eight months of chemotherapy and two of radiotherapy.

 

"I lost my innocence to cancer," says Delta, now 22.

 

"The world became darker. The awards gave me something to look forward to, and I spent ages planning my dress.

 

"But after several months of chemotherapy, I only had little tufts of hair left which were going grey. So I wore a wig and had my nurse backstage."

 

Delta glittered for the TV cameras that night, but, as her treatment continued, she was shocked by what she saw in the mirror.

 

"First I became skeletal and then, when I was put on steroids, became puffy and bulked out.

 

"My skin became sallow, I had no eyelashes or eyebrows, and my teeth started moving so I had to wear a brace.

 

"I felt very unattractive and wrote my 2004 album, Mistaken Identity, about that whole time. And yet I felt wise, as though I knew something other people didn't."

 

Delta, who now lives in London with her boyfriend, former Westlife singer Brian McFadden, has an elegant beauty and quiet maturity.

 

She hopes she has finally put cancer behind her, and is now raising awareness of Hodgkin's, which is diagnosed in 100,000 people a year in the UK, half of them under 50.

 

She has worked tirelessly to help raise money to research the disease, and has become the face of a new fundraiser for Leukaemia Research - the Alternative Hair Show - a hairdressing and showbiz extravaganza to be staged in October at the Royal Albert Hall.

 

Hodgkin's is a cancer of the lymphatic system that carries white blood cells throughout the body to fight infection. It usually affects groups of lymph nodes.

 

The lymph nodes in the neck are the most common site of cancerous tumours in Hodgkin's, but they can also be found in the armpit, chest, groin and abdomen.

 

The cancer can spread through the body via the lymphatic system and affect the bones and organs such as the liver, lungs and spleen.

 

Delta had the tell-tale signs of the disease for nine months before she was diagnosed. These included a lump in her neck, which grew to the size of a large plum, night sweats, exhaustion and unexplained weight loss.

 

Two GPs told her she merely needed to rest - she was filming Neighbours, as well as pursuing a pop career the rest of the time, often flying to London and back for TV appearances.

 

In October 2002, she developed a rash on her face.

 

"It looked like chicken pox and spread over my body," she recalls.

 

A dermatologist prescribed cortisone, which failed to help.

 

"It was the first sign that my immune system was breaking down," she says.

 

Then, out of the blue, Delta began having night sweats.

 

"I woke up drenched," she says.

 

"I've always been tall and lean and I love my food, but although I was eating the same amount, the weight started to drop off.

 

"I was also really tired, but I was used to being busy and the adrenaline kept me going. But at the gym one day, while doing a sit-up, I felt something pop just under my neck by my collarbone.

 

"When I touched it, it was the size of a grape. I knew this wasn't right so I saw a doctor.

 

"He said I was run down, that I'd had a cold and that was why the lymph gland was swollen. I don't drink, smoke or take drugs, so I just thought I probably wasn't getting enough sleep.

 

"The lump got bigger, and two months later I went back to the doctor, who again said it was my lifestyle. He said there was only a one in ten chance I could have a serious disease, so I shouldn't worry.

 

"But as I sat there, an alarm went off inside me and I thought: 'That one in ten is me.'

 

"Yet still I did nothing. Now I know you should listen to what your body is telling you.

 

"I was No 1 in the charts that year. But I had this underlying fear something was going to happen. I was so tired that sometimes I could hardly stand up."

 

One night, early in July 2003, Delta struggled home to her Melbourne apartment, swaying as she walked. She awoke from a nightmare after two hours' sleep.

 

"I was drenched in perspiration and couldn't move for fear. I thought I'd seen a dark figure trying to hand me a note. Now, it's obvious my subconscious was warning me to get help."

 

The following night, after filming had finished-Delta left for Sydney to attend a hospital appointment her mother had made for her.

 

"I knew I wouldn't be back," she recalls.

 

Cells from the lump were tested and Delta underwent blood tests and an MRI scan.

 

The following day, she was at the recording studio when her mother, Lea, and brother, Trent, arrived unexpectedly.

 

Delta says: "Their faces looked serious. Mum said: 'They think it's cancer.'

 

"I had to go straight to the hospital, where I was told they would operate the next day.

 

"The doctors told me it was Hodgkin's lymphoma and that they were concerned the cancer had spread. I started shaking uncontrollably. I was so scared."

 

The next day the tumour was removed. Then there were more tests. Hodgkin's can affect the whole body, so she was scanned from head to toe. It confirmed that the cancer had spread.

 

The following week Delta began chemotherapy, having six drugs injected into her arm in a session which lasted for six hours, this was repeated every fortnight.

 

"I would feel delirious as the drugs took effect. After the first cycle, I felt I'd been hit by a bus. I was just feeling well again when I had to begin the next cycle."

 

Two months of radiotherapy, to blast away any remaining cells, followed.

 

"I could smell burning and afterwards I was lethargic and slept a lot," she remembers.

 

After 12 months of treatment, and with the cancer in remission, Delta returned to her music career and filmed scenes for Neighbours to explain her character's departure.

 

Meanwhile, she set up her own cancer charity and publicised the symptoms of Hodgkin's.

 

The long-term effects of her treatment and her depressed immune system have stayed with her.

 

"My appendix has been painful and I've had several kidney infections requiring hospital treatment. If I get a cold, it lasts for a month.

 

"Brian is very caring and makes sure I get myself checked regularly. I don't know if we will be able to have children because the treatment can make you infertile. At 18, I felt I was too young to think about having my eggs frozen."

 

Right now, Delta is simply celebrating being alive and being free of cancer.

 

"I feel healthy, alive and energetic," she says.

 

"I used to get stressed out, but my cancer has put everything into perspective."

 

• Leukaemia Research: 020 7405 0101; or go to www.lrf.org.uk

 

new picture here HERE

 

Delta Goodrem's baby blues

 

June 05, 2007 12:00

 

DELTA Goodrem has revealed she may never be able to have children because she was "too young" to think about having her eggs frozen while she underwent chemotherapy.

 

"Brian is very caring and makes sure I get myself checked regularly. I don't know if we will be able to have children because the treatment can make you infertile. At 18, I felt I was too young to think about having my eggs frozen," Delta told UK's Daily Mail.

 

It's been almost four years since Delta Goodrem was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma and the star has only just started to share some of her darkest moments during that period.

 

Many watched with pride as Goodrem stole the show at the 2003 ARIA awards but what most didn't realise just how painful the whole experience was for the 22-year-old.

 

"I lost my innocence to cancer."

 

"The world became darker. The awards gave me something to look forward to, and I spent ages planning my dress.

 

"But after several months of chemotherapy, I only had little tufts of hair left which were going grey. So I wore a wig and had my nurse backstage."

 

"First I became skeletal and then, when I was put on steroids, became puffy and bulked out.

 

"My skin became sallow, I had no eyelashes or eyebrows, and my teeth started moving so I had to wear a brace,'' she said.

 

Despite her positive attitude and being on the road to recovery, Delta was feeling the strain of having to go through painful cancer treatments.

 

"I felt very unattractive and wrote my 2004 album, Mistaken Identity, about that whole time. And yet I felt wise, as though I knew something other people didn't."

 

But while doctors managed to kill the lymphona, the long-term effects of her treatment on her immune system have stayed with her.

 

"My appendix has been painful and I've had several kidney infections requiring hospital treatment. If I get a cold, it lasts for a month.

 

But Delta, who is currently in London, is still putting on a brave face and remaining positive.

"I feel healthy, alive and energetic," she says.

 

"I used to get stressed out, but my cancer has put everything into perspective."

All i can say is oh my god...Cancer is just the worst thing...Delta we all love you xxxxxx!!!!!!

Thanks for posting, these had me in tears!! :(

 

The new picture is absolutely gorgeous though!! She looks so healthy and happy, I'm so proud of her!! :wub:

 

Love,

Kirsty xx

gorgeous new picture :wub:

:wub:

 

aw thats sad about her being infertile :( i hope she isnt.

i know its sad, but she doesnt know for sure yet. i think it is amazing that she is still alive. if i had to chose i would rather be alive and infertile than being dead. she is so strong. her album is going to be so awesome!

i can't believe her cancer was so progressed though! I knew it was late stages, but omg like it had spread and she had been showing symptoms for over a year! She's like i don't know what....GOD!!! haha

I was just talking to someone that know's Delta, and they said that this article is pretty much bullsh!t....alot of it is just taken from the un-authorised Delta biography!