Barton-le-Clay author pens Helen’s Melons revealing how she faced breast cancer with a smile

Helen Wolfe, 49, released ‘Helen’s Melons - A positive journey through breast cancer’ via Amazon on June 13, which went straight to number one in the site’s ‘Family Lifestyle and Oncology’ section, and to number four in ‘Living with Cancer and Illness Biographies’.

The author was diagnosed with an aggressive type of breast cancer in August 2019 and had chemotherapy and a lumpectomy, with her final treatment, radiotherapy, in April and May.

Helen said: “It started off as a blog, basically to help me through. I didn’t want people worrying and I wanted them to know that I was OK.

“I have quite a warped sense of humour and I try to find humour in everything.

“I’d go for a scan and my brain would say, ‘let’s find something funny’, and the other half of me was going ‘no, you’ve been told not to move’!”

Helen has been delighted by readers’ comments, with people saying that her work has helped them through their own time of trouble.

Helen, who was treated at Luton and Dunstable Hospital, added: “It’s got naughty words in it and it’s very honest. It says when I was sick.

“Cancer is different for everybody, it’s quite a personal thing, although someone else read the book and said that it’s not really about cancer, it’s about getting through a bad thing in life with a sense of humour.”

During her treatment Helen “put on a brave face” for husband Jason, 54, daughter Katie, 22 , and sons Matthew 19, and Peter, 16. They are all very proud of her book, the cover of which was designed by Matthew. The author recently enjoyed a trip to Cornwall, where she used to go with her parents, Beryl and Ray Prosser, and is now taking medication that aims to stop the cancer returning.

Helen said: “There are some bits in the book about my parents. Unfortunately, they’ve passed away, but it’s made me how I am now; I feel I am doing things for my parents. I’m not really a spiritual person but I feel like they were there [in Cornwall] with me.”

> Helen is kindly giving some of her copies to Keech Hospice Care and the L&D.