Janey Godley joked that she’s “like a human advent calendar” as people keep asking how long she has to live after her ovarian cancer returns.
The 61-year-old comedian announced in December that the terminal illness had returned while vowing to continue touring until the end of her life, and has now declared she’s “going out with a bang”.
She told Lorraine she couldn’t predict the remaining length of her life and spoke candidly during an appearance on Tuesday’s ITV daytime show.
‘I want to go out with a bang!’ Janey Godley joked that she’s “like a human advent calendar” as people keep asking how long she has to live after her cancer returns
She said: “Due to my cancer diagnosis, this will be my last tour. I can’t wait to laugh and not talk about my blood work.
Speaking of her family, the TV personality added: “I know they’re sad because of me. We have to laugh. We have to giggle.’
When she received her diagnosis, she continued, “I didn’t know I had it until I was in stage three. If you’re bloated, if you feel full while eating, if you pee a lot, get checked out.
“It’s treatable, it’s not curable. It will always come back and I will have to keep fighting it. It has appeared on my peritoneum that holds all your parts together. I’m getting a new cancer treatment to deal with it.
Brave: The 61-year-old comedian announced in December that the terminal illness had returned while pledging to continue touring until the end of her life, and has now declared she’s “going out with a bang”.
“People say how long you have left like I’m a human advent calendar. I do not know. But if I’m going to date, I’m going to date with a bang.
“If love could heal me, I would have been healed ages ago. When you’re feeling gloomy and down and thinking how low I still am when someone says they’re thinking of you on Facebook, it really lifts you up.
Last month, Janey announced that her cancer had returned in a candid Instagram video as she vowed to tour until the end of her life.
The star assured fans she would still be performing her Not Dead Yet tour next year, saying she’s the type of guy who “dies on her feet” and not on her knees.
Opening: She told Lorraine she couldn’t predict the remaining length of her life and spoke candidly during an appearance on Tuesday’s ITV daytime show
Stark: She said, “Due to my cancer diagnosis, this will be my last tour. I can’t wait to laugh and not talk about my blood work.
Open: The TV personality added of her family, “I know the reason they’re sad is because of me. We have to laugh. We have to giggle
In the video, Janey said this may be the “last time” she will perform on stage after doctors told her cancer – which originated in her ovaries – was still present in her abdomen.
She said: “My last scan and blood tests showed my cancer marker went up.”
“I still have a bit of sickness in my stomach. I want you all to know that I will have one more round of chemotherapy.
She added: “I would also like to let you know that I will be continuing the tour in February and March. I’m determined to get back on stage.
News: Last month, Janey announced in a candid Instagram video that her cancer has returned as she vowed to tour until the end of her life
“I’ve always been the type of person who’s on my feet, not on my knees, you know me, so I’m looking forward to the tour.”
Adding: “I think it’s fair and honest to say it may be the last time you see me live on stage. I hope that’s not the case, but I think it’s a fair estimate that we’ll take a look at.
Janey continued to discuss her plans for the tour, saying that despite the sad news, the show would be fun-filled.
Sad times: Janey went on to admit that this may be the ‘last time’ she will perform on stage after doctors told her her cancer was still present in her abdomen
Honestly: She captioned the video: ‘Hi everyone – an update and just to let you know I’m looking forward to the February-March tour. Thanks to everyone who supports me’
“I’m not going to sing My Way – it’s not going to be that kind of tour, it’s going to be a lot of fun – it’s going to be my dream come true to be back on stage in February and March.”
She captioned the video: “Hi everyone – an update and just to let you guys know I’m looking forward to the February-March tour. Thanks to everyone who supports me’
Janey was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in November 2021 and had a total hysterectomy in January 2022.
In April, she took to Instagram to thank the NHS after being told she was now cancer-free following a hysterectomy.
Honesty: In April, she took to Instagram to thank the NHS after being told she was now cancer-free following a hysterectomy (pictured in 2021)
She said: “After a hysterectomy and six rounds of chemotherapy and a blood transfusion, it seems like the NHS definitely saved my life.
“I would like to thank everyone at Beatson Cancer Care and everyone in the NHS who looked after me and my little friend Shirley who looked after me when I came out with a hysterectomy.”
The comic rose to fame during the pandemic with its voiceovers of Nicola Sturgeon’s Covid-19 briefings.
Thanking everyone for their help, she said: “I want to thank everyone who has supported me, everyone who has sent me love, everyone who has sent me so much strength and told me, you know, they are thinking of me – thanks, thanks so much, you have no idea.
“And everyone who knitted me all these hats and sent me hats too – my mug is full of gratitude, thank you everyone.”
Janey has posted regularly on social media about her battle with cancer, including live streams from her hospital bed.
Growths that can be cancerous or benign: What is an ovarian tumor?
Ovarian tumors are abnormal growths that start in the ovary and can be cancerous or benign.
Nine out of ten cancers arise from the cell lining the ovaries and fallopian tubes – known as epithelial ovarian cancer.
High-grade serous ovarian cancer accounts for six out of ten epithelial cases. Most actually in the fallopian tubes.
These growths are usually treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Low-grade serous carcinoma accounts for only one in ten epithelial cases. These grow slowly and usually appear in younger women.
Surgery is the most effective treatment for low-grade serous epithelial carcinoma.
Mucinous tumors make up a small percentage of epithelial ovarian cancer.
Source: Target Ovarian Cancer