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Privacy NoticeSky Sports presenter Jo Wilson is approaching the first anniversary of hearing those magical, longed-for doctor’s words, “Your body is ‘free of disease.’” But there’s no denying her life has been turned upside down since her stage 3 cervical cancer diagnosis in July 2022. Next week is Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, and Jo, 39, knows better than anyone how crucial smear tests are. When OK! caught up with the star, she reflected on her year free of cancer and how life has changed forever. “I’m naturally positive, but a brush with death changes things,” admits Jo, who is mum to Mabel, three. “It’s taken longer than imagined to feel ‘normal’, you forget what that even is, but I’ve got more energy these days.” And the anxiety, she tells us, remains present. “I’m not on any cancer medication, but I have three monthly check-ups [smears] and scans every six months.
Jo admitted she’ll never take things for granted
(Image: OK!/Ray Burmiston)
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“The scan itself is OK, but the week waiting for the results cause ‘scanxiety’ to kick in. I don’t sleep, it’s all-consuming. I try to distract myself, but I do get a little moody. “Every niggle makes me paranoid. Everyone has a cough, but I start worrying there’s a tumour on my lungs. I had a sore back and worried it was a spine tumour. I have private health insurance through work, so luckily I can get checked. I try to get to bed at 9.30pm, but I’m not a great sleeper.” During her treatment – which included six weeks of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and brachytherapy [internal targeted radiotherapy] – Jo dropped a stone from her 5ft 10in frame. She’s regained her weight, but is “more conscious” about food now. She adds, “I’ve always been sporty, though gym routines are hard with work and a little one. I’ve always eaten well, but now I mainly choose organic. I was never a big drinker, but I’ll only have a glass of wine if I’m eating out, or fizz on special occasions. I’m more conscious of alcohol’s health impact generally.”
Jo was relieved when she received the all clear
(Image: OK!/Ray Burmiston)
Jo cried with relief upon learning that her treatment had succeeded initially. This spring will mark a year of her being disease free, but she admits that she’s unlikely to celebrate the anniversary. “It feels amazing knowing my body is clear, but I can’t take that for granted. It could change any moment. The next scan might not be good. It’s tricky,” she says. Chemotherapy meant Jo was plunged into early menopause. “I had hot flashes every couple of hours, I was moody and had brain fog – I was worried about functioning live on air! But I started taking a combined oestrogen-progesterone tablet daily within a few months of treatment ending, which helped symptoms.
Jo married husband Dan in 2022
(Image: Lorna Roach)
“I researched it, and the benefits for things like heart and bone health outweigh the risks for me.” Her menopause rules out Jo and husband Dan, 43, having more children. “I’m 39 now, so it would always be hard because of my age. Did it feel unfair that the choice was taken away from me? Yes. But I’ve come to terms with it. I call Mabel ‘my little miracle baby’. “Mabel is too young to know about my health for now. She happily goes to nursery when I work, all is good. And Dan is a wonderful dad. Throughout my treatment he looked after us and the house, which I’ll always be grateful for. Our first wedding anniversary was back in September, the same week as Mabel’s birthday and mine, so it all got celebrated together.”
She calls daughter Mabel her ‘miracle baby’
(Image: OK!/Ray Burmiston)
Jo, like millions of other Strictly Come Dancing fans, watched with tears in her eyes as Bobby Brazier, whose mum Jade Goody died of cervical cancer in 2009 aged just 27, dazzled on the dance floor and spoke of his loss. “It was emotional, regardless of whether you’ve had cancer,” admits Jo. “Bobby’s a lovely lad. I don’t even have the words for what that little boy went through. So yes, I hugged Mabel tightly that night and it did feel triggering. Mabel was my whole motivation for surviving, to be there for her growing up. No child should lose their mum so young.” Returning to work at Christmas in 2022 was a goal Jo successfully achieved, and her Sky bosses arranged daytime hours for her.
The presenter returned to work in 2022
(Image: Instagram)
“Before I got sick, I presented the early morning show, I’m very lucky for their support.” And keeping in touch with the women she met through the cervical cancer charity Jo’s Trust has added to her support network. “Chatting to others going through the same thing made such a difference. No one else truly understands it, that charity is a lifeline.” The life-changing experience also made Jo appreciate her “amazing” friends even more. “I’ve realised life can be short, so I make more effort to plan fun things with them,” she says. “Four of us let our hair down at Beyoncé’s Edinburgh’s gig, and we’re seeing Girls Aloud next. Grabbing the good times matters. Of course I always nag them about getting smears, too.” Jo had hoped sharing her battle originally might encourage more women to have smears. But, disappointingly, the NHS annual report found that one in three women still don’t.
Jo hoped sharing her battle originally might encourage more women to have smears
(Image: OK!/Ray Burmiston)
“I want to keep raising awareness and getting those smear test numbers up,” she says. “I want people to talk about whatever’s stopping them from going. Is it finding time? Is it embarrassing? For me, it was having a traumatic birth that made me delay it. How I regret that now. Get whatever support you need – and be tested. I promise you, it’s better than going through cancer.” Today, Jo tries to “count my blessings and live in the present”. “I just want to get through my scans and make it to the significant, five-year cancer-free mark, enjoy my work and spend time with Mabel. That’s my focus these days.” Cervical Cancer Prevention Week runs from 22 to 28 January. Jo’s Trust is the UK’s leading cervical cancer charity. For more information about cervical cancer, visit jostrust.org.uk or call the helpline on 0808 802 8000Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnIn the NewsHealthJo Wilson
