Jane Fallon, the British author and long-time partner of Ricky Gervais, says she is “very nervous” about the next stage of her breast cancer treatment after a hiccup during surgery.
Fallon, 65, a TV producer turned author of 13 bestselling books, took to Instagram in recent days to update fans after undergoing a second surgery amid her battle with the disease.
“Little update. So, my second surgery went well. They got the clear margin they need on the original excision, which is great,” she wrote, before adding surgeons “hit a new little patch of precancerous cells on the other side of the new bit they took out”.
“But thankfully, everyone agrees more surgery would be overkill,” she continued.
“A huge percentage of pre-cancer doesn’t develop into cancer.
“I saw the oncologist today and we’ve agreed the risks of radiation outweigh the benefits in my case. Which leaves Tamoxifen (or similar) or wait and see (my preferred option).
“I’m very nervous about going the drug route, because I know the side effects can be hideous, but I’m taking all the info on board and, luckily, there’s no pressure to make a quick decision. So, all good and I’m just looking forward to getting back to normal.”
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The update came 11 days after Fallon told fans she was returning to surgery after doctors failed to get a clear margin around the edge of the tumour during a previous operation.
“[The surgery] will be just to make sure they get everything, which is a bit of a pain, but it isn’t a worry – they just need to make sure they have a clear margin, so will be the exact same operation as last time,” she wrote at the time.
It followed a previous post by Fallon on March 24 after she underwent her first round of surgery.
“Little update. Big day. I had my op this morning. I’m feeling remarkably fine (which is possibly the drugs, and they might also explain why I’m cross eyed in photo five). It all went very well, apparently,” she wrote.
“Now I just have to wait 8-10 days for confirmation that they’ve got it all and the margins are clear (small % chance of more surgery).”
Fallon also gave “a huge thanks for all the lovely messages I’ve had since I posted about what was happening”.
“I’ve honestly been blown away and I’m reading every single one of them even if I’m not quite keeping up with replying.”
Fallon first took to Instagram on March 13 to announce she had cancer.
“I thought I should post something as I’ve had a few people notice I’ve been a bit quiet on here lately,” she wrote.
“About a month ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer – very early stage thankfully and the prognosis is excellent.
“I had a routine mammogram a week before Christmas. I had no symptoms but the brilliant radiographer spotted something iffy and sent me for further tests and eventually a biopsy.”
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She wrote that she had “more mammograms, more biopsies and an MRI” to pinpoint the problem area precisely”, adding “It’s been a lot, I’m not going to lie”.
Fallon ended the post by referencing “Dr Eric”, presumably Gervais, and their cat, ‘Nurse’ Pickle.
Fans were quick to pick up on the correlation of her diagnosis and the character of Lisa in the British black comedy After Life, the critically acclaimed Netflix series Gervasis created, wrote, executive produced, directed and starred in.
Gervasis, 64, played small town newspaper journalist Tony Johnson whose beloved wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in the show, which premiered in 2019 and ran for three seasons.
Johnson’s wife appears throughout the series in flashbacks, as she had passed away from the disease.
While promoting the series, Gervais said he had taken inspiration from his relationship with Jane, whom he met at university in London in 1982.
Speaking to The Mirror, he said: “You don’t get to 60 without seeing most things. I’ve lost both parents and a sibling, and all my pets and some friends.
“But the ultimate for me would be losing my soulmate. That’s the worst thing that could happen to me.”
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