Comedian Janey Godley determined to continue with tour as cancer returns
Comedian Janey Godley has revealed her cancer has returned and admitted her upcoming tour next spring could be her last.
The 61-year-old stand-up and actor – known for her appearances on Have I Got News For You and viral videos impersonating Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon – was diagnosed in 2021 with Stage Three ovarian cancer and underwent a hysterectomy and chemotherapy.
Godley told her 276k followers in a video on social media: "My cancer treatment is back on the cards because my recent scan and my blood tests showed that my cancer marker went up. There’s still a bit of disease in my abdomen.
Read more: Comedian Rhod Gilbert 'optimistic' after stage four cancer diagnosis
"So I want you all to know that I’ll be going through some more chemotherapy.
Hello everyone - an update and just to let you know I am looking forward to the tour on Feb-March. Thanks to everyone supporting me pic.twitter.com/YbJFHuxZHo
— Janey Godley (@JaneyGodley) December 13, 2022
"I also want you to know that I’m going ahead with the tour in February and March. I am determined to get back on stage.
"I've always been a die on your feet, not on your knees kind of person.
“I’m looking forward to the tour, I think it’s fair and honest to say it might be the last time you see me live on stage. I’m hoping it’s not, but I think it’s a fair estimation.”
The Traces star is due to tour Scotland, beginning in Arbroath on 1 February, before bringing the show to London's Leicester Square theatre from 16 March.
She added: "I know it's not the news everybody wanted to hear but I was diagnosed with Stage Three ovarian cancer, my type of cancer isn't curable. It's treatable and we're treating it."
Godley thanked her followers for their support, as well as the Beatson Cancer Clinic in Glasgow and her family, friends and management.
The comic had announced in June this year that she was cancer free.
In a video on Instagram she said: "Hello everybody, I've just had a phone call from the cancer specialist and the scan has come back clear. There is no evidence of disease.
“So after a hysterectomy and six rounds of chemo and the blood transfusion, it seems like the NHS has definitely save my life.”
Godley previously said she went public with her diagnosis to highlight her symptoms — bloating, stomach pain, tiredness and needing to urinate more often — as she urged other women not to delay getting checked out if they felt the same.
The comedian is a supporter of the SNP and Scottish independence and often shares videos of Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon, accompanied by parody voiceovers.
In 2016 Godley was pictured standing outside Donald Trump's Turnberry Golf resort with a sign that read: "Trump is a ****".
Read more: Tracey Emin opens up about living with cancer
In the past she has hit back at trolls online, including one who called her a "two-faced hypocritical witch" and another who called her "ugly" and "horrific to watch".
Watch: Janey Godley discussing cancer treatment on Lorraine