Gardeners' World presenter Rachel de Thame has opened up about her "desperate" to-do list following her breast cancer diagnosis in 2018, revealing how the news sent "shockwaves" through her life.
Penning her thoughts for The Times at the time, Rachel shared: "While one is grateful to have options, treatment is no walk in the park. Strangely, though, I've also found that there are compensations. Top of the list is a renewed, almost desperate desire to get on with some of the things that for too long have lingered on a mental to-do list."
The beloved BBC personality reflected on the impact of her health scare, stating: "When you've felt rocked to your foundations, the only sensible thing is to get on with living."
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With a newfound outlook, Rachel admitted she's now viewing life through a different lens, with ambitions to transform her garden into a sanctuary for herself and others.
She elaborated on her aspirations: "On a more immediate and personal level, I'm focusing on next spring and how I want my garden to look and, above all, make me feel."
Fortunately, Rachel's condition was detected early, prompting her to take time off from Gardeners' World as she embarked on her treatment journey.
Speaking to the BBC during this period, she conveyed optimism: "I'm doing well and coming towards the end of it.
Thankfully, she made a complete recovery and has since extolled the virtues of gardening for its role in her physical and mental well-being during that tough time.
At the Chelsea Flower Show, Rachel expressed: "I know there's a big message this year at Chelsea about the importance of gardening for your general health and mental health, if you're going through some chronic illness, whatever it is, it's vital to go out and be in a garden."
In one of the most recent episodes of Gardeners' World, fans were left in tears after expert Steve opened up about his terminal diagnosis.
He shared: "Very recently, I had been diagnosed with a terminal cancer, and I don't know how long I might live. It could be two months or two years, possibly.
"I didn't feel down as a result of it, I just saw it as another challenge, I'm going to have to sort something out for this.
"And actually, I have had a big, creative burst, I think, as a result of that positive attitude, and I am getting there. I am finding ways in which Pippa and our son, between them, will be able to manage this whole process once I've gone."
He shared: "Very recently, I had been diagnosed with a terminal cancer, and I don't know how long I might live. It could be two months or two years, possibly."I didn't feel down as a result of it, I just saw it as another challenge, I'm going to have to sort something out for this.
"And actually, I have had a big, creative burst, I think, as a result of that positive attitude, and I am getting there. I am finding ways in which Pippa and our son, between them, will be able to manage this whole process once I've gone."
