‘choked up’
Patsy Kensit fights back tears as she remembers ‘amazing’ mum who died after 20 year battle with breast cancer
The 50-year-old was very emotional as she talked about her mum's long cancer battler
PATSY Kensit fought back tears as she remembered her “amazing” mother who died from breast cancer after a 20 year battle against the disease.
The 50-year-old opened up about her mum Margaret’s lengthy battle in an emotional interview on today's Lorraine to mark Breast Cancer Awareness month, admitting that not a day goes past when she doesn’t think about her.
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Speaking to Lorraine she said: “I was so young. Tragically in 1972, I was four, my mother was 33, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and that was in the 70s, so you know, they gave her weeks to live. She fought the most incredible battle.
“Every day I never saw her cry, I said goodbye to her probably about seven or eight times by the time I was 11. She’d go in and out of remission.
“She defied all of her diagnosis, they were astounded… I get choked up talking about it. She was so amazing and so positive.”
Initially, Patsy's mum was given just weeks to live but she defied her doctors' expectations.
Fighting back tears, Patsy added: “She lost the battle when I was 23, my eldest son who is 26, he was one.
"There’s not a day goes by when I don’t think about my mum and both my boys, they talk about Grandma in heaven.
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“She’s just such an inspiration and a fighter. My dad, he was in and out of prison as I was growing up, so I don’t know what would have happened to my brother and me had she not hung in there.”
Patsy says her mum's death has had an impact on the way she lives her life and she makes sure she has regular check ups.
The star said: “Your innocence as a child goes when you realise you’re not immortal. I had to face that pretty young.
"I worried. My mum was my best friend. I’ve been having mammograms, ultrasounds from the age of 22.
“I’ve been fortunate not to have any signs of any tumours. I’m very grateful for that. My heart goes out to people.
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"I’ve become ambassador for Future Dreams Nail Breast Cancer, which is a wonderful thing for me to do.”
Patsy added: “Of course I’m reconciled with the fact she’s gone. That loss is always there.
"I feel for my sons, she was such a wonderful mother, they missed out on having this incredible grandmother. That to me it’s heartbreaking.”
The former Emmerdale actress has had mammograms since she was 22.
In 2013 she had to have an emergency hysterectomy after benign tumours were discovered.
Patsy's eldest son, James, with Simple Minds singer Jim Kerr, is now 25, while her boy with Liam Gallagher, Lennon, is 19.
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