EXCLUSIVE Giovanna Fletcher: 'Talking about breast cancer shouldn't be embarrassing'

Giovanna Fletcher is a woman of many talents – when she isn’t raising her two young sons, three-year-old Buzz and 21-month-old Buddy, writing bestselling novels, or performing in a stage show, she is trekking across Oman to raise money and awareness for CoppaFeel!, a breast cancer awareness charity.

In fact, when we caught up with Giovanna at the book launch for her new novel ‘Some Kind Of Wonderful’, the star had not long got back from Oman and was already gearing up for The Christmasaurus Live! rehearsals, which kick off later this month.

In short, Giovanna is a real life Wonder Woman, and she shows no sign of slowing down as she told us that she is planning to write another novel and go on another trek in 2018 during our exclusive chat.

Speaking about her experience in Oman, Gi told us: “It was absolutely amazing, it was one of the most challenging things that I have ever done but I made the best friends, real friends for life.

“You had people there who had gone through chemotherapy the year before, and to think where they were last year compared to now just really hit home why I support CoppaFeel! and why I want to spread that message.

“Women and men just knowing their bodies and if there are any changes, knowing those signs, is such a simple and important message and I think the treks are amazing for spreading it.

“I think we all just look for a lump but it could actually be so many other symptoms.”

When asked why she thinks young people are particularly less likely to go to the doctor if they notice any changes, Giovanna continued: “People think it is embarrassing – when you are talking about dimpling or crusting on your nipples or bloody discharge from your nipples or a rash… It’s embarrassing.

“You might think there is something wrong with you, or that it’s an STD, so you don’t want to go and see your doctor but the earlier people go and see a doctor the higher their chance of survival if it is cancer – and if it isn’t then that’s great, at least you know not to worry about it.”

Gi also reinforced the importance of seeking medical advice early, telling us: “Since working with CoppaFeel! I’ve met too many people who had symptoms in their very early 20s and either they did nothing about it or their doctors did nothing about it and a couple of them have now passed away, another is still living with cancer almost nine years on and they’d have a very different story if they’d had the diagnosis a lot sooner.

“It’s not scaremongering, it’s just saying that if you have something go and get it checked – it’s that simple.”

And it isn’t just health advice that Giovanna dished at her ‘Some Kind Of Wonderful’ book launch, with the 32 year old’s latest book following a brokenhearted Lizzy who is trying to rediscover who she is following the breakdown of her long-term relationship.

Giving her top tip for dealing with heartache, Giovanna said: “Is there any advice that you can give? I think you just need to struggle through the heartache, eat chocolate, and then hopefully at some point start to pick yourself up again.

“I do think that you have to let yourself grieve that relationship. It’s like a death – you’re suddenly going to cut that person out of your life, that person who has been with you through everything if it was a long-term relationship.

“Suddenly they’re not there anymore, so it’s like a death – you can’t call on them for anything.”

‘Some Kind Of Wonderful’ by Giovanna Fletcher is out now!

For more information on CoppaFeel! click here.

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