‘Celebrity Big Brother’ Reality TV Star Cheryl Fergison, 59, Waited Years to Share Her Private Cancer Battle Publicly – Why It’s Okay to Wait to Talk About Your Diagnosis

“Yes, there were some dark moments when I thought: ‘Am I going to die?’ Am I going to leave my husband without a wife, my son without a mom?” she told The Mirror.

“But I am strong, and I’d knock those thoughts away. I was determined that it wasn’t going to beat me.”

The emotional toll of her diagnosis made it difficult for Fergison to tell her young son. However, she waited even longer – eight years – before publicly sharing her cancer journey—a decision she says was deeply personal and rooted in the need to process her experience in her own time.

When she did open up, her circle of friends rallied around her with unwavering support.

“My heart was breaking. I was almost grieving myself, as if I was already gone, but I had to be strong,” she said. “Their support meant the world to me,” Fergison added.

 

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One gesture still brings tears to her eyes.

“How much are your bills and your mortgage, because we’d like to support you,” a friend said. “I was in shock and said no, but Barb was insistent—I wasn’t earning. They sat there and wrote a cheque. I was sobbing, but Barbara hugged me and said: ‘Don’t worry. We’re always going to be here for you.”

Her diagnosis came after a routine smear test, which returned clear, yet Fergison felt something wasn’t right.

“I’d started having a lot of backache, and then I began spotting blood, which wasn’t normal for me. I had been fitted with a coil to help with very heavy periods, but somehow I just knew something didn’t feel right.”

Further tests revealed stage 2 endometrial cancer. The news left her stunned.

“I was in absolute shock; stunned to the core. I couldn’t believe the doctor was talking about me.”

Her doctors recommended a full hysterectomy—removal of the uterus – a surgery that profoundly changed how she saw herself.

“It brought on early menopause; in terms of how I saw myself as a woman, it felt as if it had all come to an end. It was a horrendous time,” she recalled.

Thankfully, her treatment was successful, and she’s been in remission since. Now firmly in survivorship, Cheryl Fergison embraces the little joys she once feared she might miss—especially the treasured time she gets to spend with her son.

Figuring Out If You’re Ready to Share Your Diagnosis

Everyone navigates illness differently—some individuals facing cancer or chronic disease choose to openly share their stories, while others confide only in those closest to them. According to SurvivorNet experts, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach—every way of coping, from public to private, is entirely valid.

WATCH: Sharing a Diagnosis

“Patients who have just been diagnosed with cancer sometimes wonder how they are going to handle the diagnosis in social situations,” explains psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik.

She says many wrestle with questions like, “How much information should they share, and with whom should they share it?”

“There is no one right way to handle this diagnosis,” Dr. Plutchik emphasizes. “People should do what feels right to them.”

Because a cancer journey can last months—even years—patients often face ongoing uncertainty about their health, and this lack of clarity can greatly influence when, and how, someone chooses to share their diagnosis, she adds.

Dr. Plutchik also underscores the importance of respecting boundaries: loved ones and friends should honor the patient’s preferences about what they’re ready to disclose and when they’re ready to seek support.

Helping You Understand Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer begins when cancerous cells form in the tissues of the endometrium, the inner lining of the uterus.

After a woman has been diagnosed with endometrial cancer, her doctor will stage the cancer based on its spread within the body. A pelvic exam and imaging tests help your doctor learn if the cancer has spread or metastasized.

WATCH: Different Types of Endometrial Cancer

Some common risk factors for endometrial cancer include:

• Obesity
• Taking estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy after menopause
• Having never given birth or started menstruation at an early age
• Having a family history of endometrial cancer

Common symptoms of endometrial cancer may include:

• Pelvic pain: Some women may experience pain or discomfort in the pelvic area.
• Pain during intercourse: This symptom is less common but can occur in some cases.
• Unusual vaginal discharge: Watery or blood-tinged discharge may be a sign of endometrial cancer.
• Weight loss: Unexplained weight loss can sometimes be associated with cancer.
• Urinary problems: Difficulty or pain when urinating.

Endometrial Cancer Treatment Options

Treatment for endometrial cancer includes surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy. Surgery is the most common treatment method.

“There are a lot of new, exciting treatments for advanced endometrial cancer that we’ve just discovered over the last couple of years,” Dr. Dana Chase, gynecologic oncologist at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, says.

“So even if you’re diagnosed with an advanced stage, ask your treating doctor what the latest treatments are, or even potentially, is there a clinical trial I can participate in for my endometrial cancer? … There’s a lot of research on new treatments for endometrial cancer, which is very exciting,” Dr. Chase continued.

The most common procedure is a hysterectomy, where the surgeon removes the uterus. They often also remove both ovaries and fallopian tubes in bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. This helps lower the risk of the cancer spreading or coming back.

WATCH: What to Know About Endometrial Cancer-Related Surgery

“Doctors usually treat early-stage endometrial cancer with surgery as the main approach,” explains Dr. B.J. Rimel, a gynecologic oncologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

“During the surgery, doctors may also perform staging to see how far the cancer has spread. This involves taking out and examining nearby lymph nodes and tissues.”

Chemotherapy and radiation are options, particularly when the cancer is in more advanced stages.

Treating endometrial cancer with hormone therapy involves removing hormones or blocking their ability to help cancer cells grow. Targeted therapy uses drugs designed to target specific cancer cells.

“Hormonal therapy commonly works because most endometrial cancers are estrogen receptor-positive,” Dr. Michael Toboni, an assistant professor in the division of gynecologic oncology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, tells SurvivorNet.

“So if you give progesterone, it can counteract the estrogen feeding the cancer. This is commonly given with multiple anti-estrogen medications or an anti-estrogen medication in combination with another medication that inhibits a common pathway in endometrial cancer.”

Each treatment method can have side effects, and the impact on the body may vary depending on the type of treatment. If you are undergoing treatment for endometrial cancer, discussing potential side effects with your doctor and strategies to minimize their impact is crucial.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

If you’re battling cancer or on the other side of it, and you’re struggling with your outlook on life, here are some questions you may consider asking your doctor to get the conversation started:

• What can I do if I’m struggling to be thankful for what I have in my life?
• Are there local resources for people wishing to improve their mental health?
• What else can I do to help reduce my stress level during my cancer journey?
• It’s difficult for me to find happiness and joy. How can I find help?

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