Exclusive: Stunning Heather Clark defies breast cancer to made model debut days after masectomy

Jun 29 2008 By Lesley Roberts

JUST a couple of weeks ago, 31-year-old Heather Clark was lying in hospital after her second mastectomy operation.

But just look at her now - glam and sexy in an exclusive fashion shoot for Scotland's biggest shopping mall.

Stunning Heather, of Kilmarnock, has been diagnosed with breast cancer TWICE in three years and she is now battling again after the disease spread to her spine.

Yet the customer service advisor took on her first modelling assignment just three days after her release from hospital.

And she wowed shoppers at Glasgow's Silverburn centre as they watched her in action, never guessing the ordeal she's been through.

She said: "I always fancied being a model when I was younger but I never thought I was good-looking enough.

"But after everything that has happened, I'm finally happy with myself.

I've got the confidence to accept the person I am and the way I look.

"I know it doesn't look like there's anything wrong with me and I love to get dressed up to go out because I can feel like myself again.

"I want to show that even if you've got a terminal illness, you can still have fun and enjoy your life."

Heather is one of the 20 inspirational people - 18 women and two men - chosen to star in Breast Cancer Care Scotland's annual fundraising fashion show. So we put her through her paces to model some of the hottest looks from Silverburn, the style sponsors of this year's event.

Heather said: "I've been in hospital for two weeks, just desperate to get out and get on with life again so I couldn't wait to start looking for great clothes.

"I still feel a little swollen. I've had an implant as part of reconstruction and it's not quite the size it should be yet.

"But I believe if you look good, you feel better so I'm lucky people can't tell I've been ill.

"I've had my days of thinking, 'What else can they throw at me?' but I figure the worst has already happened so I would be as well just getting on with it."

Heather was just 26 and leading a party-girl lifestyle on the Costa del Sol when she discovered a lump in her breast.

Working in a bar in Spain's upmarket Puerto Banus resort, she was so busy enjoying herself, she didn't worry too much about it.

She said: "I felt absolutely fine and I thought I was far too young to have breast cancer.

"But the lump started getting bigger so I phoned my sister and told her."

Back in Scotland, sister Lorraine was concerned enough to book a flight back home for Heather, insisting she get checked out.

And in January 2005, Heather was told she had breast cancer and would need a mastectomy, reconstructive surgery plus chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

She said: "When you're young, you think you're invincible. I don't think it even crossed my mind there was a possibility I could die."

Exactly three years after her first tumour was diagnosed, specialists found a lump in Heather's remaining breast.

She would have to go through the same treatment all over again but there was even worse to come.

She said: "I'd also had a terribly sore back so when they diagnosed a second breast cancer they decided to investigate my back problem too and they found a tumour at the base of my spine.

"That was the only time I cried. I knew I couldn't beat this one.

"My back is weak now so I'm having it strengthened with a procedure called cementoplasty.

It uses a special cement to fill the holes that are causing me pain."

But Heather doesn't waste time feeling sorry for herself.

She's a fashion addict who loves to shop and she's determined to look every bit as hot as she did before she fell ill.

She said: "My only problem at the moment is that I lost my eyelashes during my most recent chemotherapy.

"But I managed to keep my hair by using a special 'cold cap' treatment.

"So I'll just stick on false eyelashes and smile. I find a bit of make-up and fake tanwork wonders on how you feel."

Bosses at Silverburn were so knocked out by Heather's attitude that they're pulling out all the stops to help lay on the best fashion show yet.

Centre spokesman Judith O'Leary said: "If we can make these women and men feel great then we will be very proud."

  

SOLD OUT

TICKETS to Breast Cancer Care Scotland's fundraising fashion shows sold out in record time.

All 900 seats for the two September 25 shows were snapped up within a week of going on sale.

"We can't believe they went so quickly," said the charity's Colin Graham. "I hope it's a sign that we'll raise a record amount."

For more information call the helpline on 0808 800 6000 or click www.breastcancercare.org.uk