I thought I’d die before 40, reveals Sky Sports presenter diagnosed with cancer after giving birth
SKY SPORTS presenter Jo Wilson has opened up on her cancer diagnosis and revealed she “prepared for the worst”.
Wilson was diagnosed with cervical cancer in July 2022 but is now two years cancer-free.
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Jo Wilson has opened up on her cancer diagnosisCredit: Sky Sports
The presenter has a new documentary titled ‘Football, Cancer, and Me’Credit: INSTAGRAM @jowilsontv
In the doc Wilson talks to others within football who have been diagnosed with cancerCredit: INSTAGRAM @jowilsontv
Wilson was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2022 – 18 months after the birth of her daughter MabelCredit: Instagram @jowilsontv
The mother of one has recalled the fear she felt in a new Sky Sports News documentary titled Football, Cancer, and Me.
The presenter also advised anyone who may be hesitant to go to the doctor’s to get checked out.
Wilson, 41, said: “It hit me like a truck. I did wonder if I’m going to die.
“I’d prepared myself for the worst, I think you have to.
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“I actually didn’t tell anyone. I didn’t want to put it on anyone.
“If one person can see this and make a phone call to the doctor because something doesn’t feel right, then it’s worth talking about.”
In the documentary Wilson speaks to other people within football who have been diagnosed with cancer, including manager Tony Mowbray and Sky Sports News colleague Emma Saunders.
She also spoke about her treatment which involved weeks of daily radiotherapy, weekly chemotherapy and three days of invasive internal brachytherapy.
How to protect yourself against cervical cancer
CERVICAL cancer is most commonly diagnosed in women in their early 30s, with around 3,200 new cases and 850 deaths each year in the UK.
According to CRUK, the five-year survival rate is around 70 per cent – and the earlier it is caught, the better.
Cervical screening programmes and HPV vaccines have reduced rates and save 4,000 lives each year.
It is vital you attend your smear test and get jabbed when invited, and that you know the symptoms of cervical cancer to look out for.
These aren’t always obvious, and they may not become noticeable until the cancer has reached an advanced stage.
But you might notice:
- Unusual bleeding (often after sex, between periods, or after the menopause)
- Pain and discomfort during sex
- Vaginal discharge (often unpleasant smelling)
- Pain in your lower back, between your hip bones or in your lower tummy
Women are invited to have regular cervical screenings between the ages of 25 and 64. How often depends on your age.
The HPV vaccine, which helps protect against the virus, is recommended for children aged 12 to 13 and people at higher risk from HPV.
Source: NHS and Cancer Research UK
Colleague Saunders underwent surgery after developing a brain infection following her initial thyroid cancer diagnosis.
She was put into a coma and left with a huge scar after the operation, which shocked her partner Will Still.
Former Southampton boss Still said: “The scariest bit was the operation itself.
“She goes down totally fine and then comes back five or six hours later with this massive gash. I wasn’t ready for that.
“The toughest bit was being in a different country and trying to manage a football club at the same time. You always have that bit of guilt.”
Sky Sports News colleague Emma Saunders also appears in the documentaryCredit: Getty
