Cathy Kelly: 'I just want to be around long enough to be there for my family'
Cathy Kelly is a master at capturing our imagination but when fiction becomes a reality, the author says it can make you realise how short and precious life is.
Her new book Sisterhood focuses on two sisters who share one explosive secret that could change everything. The book is one of self-discovery for the main characters but we can’t help but think that there is a reflection of Cathy within this book.
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Cathy revealed that she’d been diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2023 and told fans in December that she’d rang the bell following chemotherapy.
Cathy Kelly with her latest novel Sisterhood. Pic: Cathy Kelly / Instagram
Chatting to EVOKE, Cathy spoke of how she couldn’t help but feel guilty during this time. ‘I am such an energetic person and I do stuff. And I couldn’t do anything… I felt guilty. I felt like, “oh my God I can’t do anything”.’
When it came to her family who supported her through this difficult time, Cathy said they were angels and kept everything going because she had very little energy.
Cathy Kelly. Pic: Supplied
Cathy is mum to her twin sons Dylan and Murray who turned 20 in 2023 and admits telling them about her cancer diagnosis was very difficult. She said she told them ‘we are going to get through this’ together as a family.
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Her partner PJ has also been a huge support to her since being diagnosed in 2023 and Cathy recalled how he kept telling her everything was going to be OK when they found out the news.
The author went on to tell us how she has a view on life now that might be surprising to some. She said: ‘I’m not afraid of death. The people I love know I love them. I don’t have any major feuds. I just want to be around long enough to be there for my family.’
Cathy Kelly. Pic: Supplied
Cathy continued: ‘Cancer makes you very aware that it is very finite. You don’t know when cancer can come back and where it’ll go and what’ll happen.’
Speaking on Miriam O’Callaghan’s radio show on Sunday, Cathy reflected further on the past year of her life and praised her family for everything they’ve done to help her.
Author Cathy Kelly with Miriam O’Callaghan. Pic: Cathy Kelly / Instagram
She said: ‘A good friend of mine said “you have to look at life through prism of cancer now”. It can be hard sometimes, I am a different person, now and I get very tired. Chemo takes a long time to leave the body and I’ll be tired with radiotherapy.
‘It sounds silly but that can be annoying because I have things to do.. I want to fold the laundry, it’s never exotic things! I do have such gratitude for the people who looked after me though… all these amazing people who were so incredibly kind and my family who were all there for me.
‘I’m also grateful that we live in a country where I can get these drugs… whatever happens next I am grateful, it’s going to be good.’