East Lancs nurse's best-selling message of hope (From This Is Lancashire)

East Lancs nurse's best-selling message of hope

11:49am Wednesday 31st March 2010 in

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JULIE Houlker was given 18 months to live three years ago and as of today she is a 14-year cancer survivor.

Her story and those of the friends she has met along the way have been put together in a book which has flown off the shelves in her adopted home in British Columbia, Canada.

‘Choosing To Smile’ is a touching collection, written by Julie and her Canadian friends, of extracts from their lives, before and after their cancer diagnosis.

But more than a book, Choosing To Smile is a website, a theme song with a music video, and has gone on to become a movement in its own right with a Facebook group that has attracted nearly 4,000 members in less than a month.

The book has only been available to buy from local book stores and online for a week and already the trio have appeared in Canadian newspapers, on the country’s radio and TV stations – and now they are lining up an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

“I can’t believe the response we’ve had,” said Julie, 55. “It’s just snowballed. Our mission is to share with others the strength we’ve found in each other.

“I’ve had three different diagnoses, and each time you think ‘I’m not going to get away with it this time’. But I’m learning to go one day at a time and not worry about the future.

“I feel lucky that it’s 14 years and I’m still here and I’m still smiling,” said Julie, the aunt of Accrington Stanley captain Andy Procter.

The Blackburn-born nurse, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995 aged just 41 and went on to have a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. Eight years later the cancer returned and Julie is one of the few women to have had a mastectomy twice on the same side.

Julie, who worked at Darwen Health Centre before emigrating, has recently completed her latest grueling series of chemotherapy. But far from feeling sorry for herself, Julie has picked out a sassy new wig and carried on with her mission to inspire others.

Little Julie from Pleasington, as she calls herself in the book, writes about her childhood. She talks about being the May Queen while at St Thomas Aquinas RC School, Darwen, and blackberry picking on the fields around Blackburn.

The book also covers meeting her husband of 37 years, Graham and follows their world travels with son Paul, before their move to Canada.

Julie also reveals the emotional moment she was diagnosed with cancer and how she came to meet the group of friends, also cancer survivors, who have helped each other through the tough times. Sadly one of the women, a fourth member of the group, died at the weekend.

“Writing this book has helped me so much. Not every day is good and the book doesn’t pretend it is. It’s about the ups and downs of our lives. I hope it makes others realise it’s OK to have bad days so long as you try to have more good ones.”

Julie’s mum, Marie Smith, 79, of Redlam said: “Julie says to me ‘positive thoughts mum, I can tell when you’re not thinking them, so keep it up’. She is so strong and I’m so proud if her.”

Julie added: “Positive thinking hasn’t cured us from our cancers but choosing to smile makes the whole horrible process a lot easier.”

l To order a copy of Julie’s book visit www.choosingtosmile.com