Nicki Chapman, the star known for her role in Escape to the Country, has opened up about the most terrifying ordeal of her life — being diagnosed with a brain tumour the size of a golf ball in 2019. In her powerful new memoir, So Tell Me What You Want, the 57-year-old reveals the raw emotions and immense challenges she faced after receiving the devastating news, which she describes as the “most frightening experience” of her life.
The publicist turned TV presenter recalls how she was shocked by the diagnosis, which came after experiencing sudden vision loss and slurred speech while recovering from knee surgery. “It was a slap in the face. Having to call my family and tell them—it’s just hideous,” she said. Doctors initially thought she’d had a stroke, but scans later revealed a meningioma — a non-cancerous but potentially life-threatening tumour.
Nicki underwent surgery to remove part of the tumour, and while some remained due to its risky location, it eventually “disappeared,” to the surprise of her doctors. “The only thing it really made me do is have a greater sense of gratitude,” she shares, revealing that the experience deepened her appreciation for life. Despite the scare, she is grateful it wasn’t brain cancer. She even made her will as a precaution, contemplating the unthinkable.
Nicki reflects, “I have had an amazing life. Once the bombshell of the tumour dropped, I thought, ‘I don’t want to give this life up. But if this is it? Well — how lucky have I been?’” With a glass-half-full mentality, she says she found inner strength during the most difficult time, realizing that it was either “take me now or let me live.”
In a candid interview, Nicki admits she doesn’t like to talk about her health journey often, saying, “It makes me cry.” She explained that she now keeps her tumour and the emotional memories in a “filing cabinet” in her mind, locking it away as she moves forward with her life. “You do this with a lot of things in life — it will always be there, but I don’t need to keep opening it,” she said.
The shock of her diagnosis came as a complete surprise. Nicki had been dealing with symptoms that included vision problems and slurred speech, which doctors initially thought were due to a stroke. However, scans revealed the tumour, and she was forced to face the reality of her health crisis. “I thought I was just having a stroke,” she recalls. “But it turned out I had this big tumour.”
Nicki’s husband, music producer Dave Shackleton, stood by her side through it all. He was her rock, and although it was harder for him than she initially thought, Nicki says his support was unwavering. “He’s been amazing,” she says. “In a way, it’s harder for those close to you.”
In March 2022, Nicki revealed the astonishing news that the tumour had “disappeared.” The emotional moment was so overwhelming that she broke down in tears upon hearing the news from her consultant. “I was sobbing,” she recalls, remembering the call from her doctor while she was in a field. “He said the tumour had gone, and I was just overwhelmed with relief.”
Nicki’s strength through the entire ordeal has inspired many. Despite everything, she remains determined not to let her tumour define her. “I don’t want to be known as Nicki Chapman with a brain tumour,” she says. “I’ll always be me.”
Nicki continues to work with the NHS and undergo regular monitoring, but she is focused on staying positive. “For me, it’s about taking each day as it comes, being grateful for what I have, and living my life to the fullest.”
Her resilience and positive attitude are a testament to her strength, showing us all that even in the face of life-changing challenges, we can find the strength to keep going.
Source: Daily Mail
