A LOVING husband who lost his wife to cancer has written a book about her journey in the hope of inspiring others.
Irene Yarrow died in March last year aged 65 after 12 years battling bowel cancer. She stayed positive against all odds.
She lived in Grange Road with her husband, John, who has published a book about her enduring positivity called Inspirational Irene from the Heart.
All proceeds will go towards Helen Rollason Cancer Charity.
Mr Yarrow, 66, said: "I want to carry her inspiration on as she was totally unique – she had her cancer second and put everything and everyone else first.
"Irene was not special in the sense of being a celebrity, just a normal good-natured loving person, mother and wife.
"Irene showed us that even when confronted with the adversity of cancer, and its associated chemotherapy and drug-related side effects, she would always continue taking her medication alongside being proactive and trying anything she could to prolong her life and beat the odds.
"Irene did not let the cancer beat her; she battled for almost 13 years, which is totally unprecedented and probably a record for the UK and possibly the world."
Mrs Yarrow was first diagnosed in late 2000 with Dukes' stage B bowel cancer and later that year had surgery to remove the cancerous tissue from her colon at Basildon Hospital. She received radiotherapy and chemotherapy to try and stop the cancer returning.
The mother of one reacted badly to the treatment and her bowel began to cease working.
She was transferred to Southend Hospital Cancer Unit.
Mr Yarrow was called to the hospital in the middle of the night and advised to recall their daughter from Southampton University because Irene was deteriorating rapidly.
Mr Yarrow said: "Against all the odds Irene began to rally and her bowel function started to improve.
"She later said that it was due to her survival 'mind over matter' attitude because she wanted to see her daughter graduate in July."
Mr Yarrow said that Irene was an excellent mother to their now 32-year-old daughter, Elise.
After five years of treatment and recovery Mrs Yarrow was told she was in remission but in 2007, while in Italy on holiday with her husband, she complained of abdominal pain.
She found the cancer had spread to the opposite side of her bowel and due to the position of the tumour operating was not possible.
However, she continued with chemotherapy and radiotherapy but in 2010 tests showed the cancer had started to spread.
Mrs Yarrow died on March 9, 2012, due to heart failure as a result of the cancer.
Professor Neville Davidson, who treated Mrs Yarrow at Nuffield Hospital, Brentwood, said: "What struck me about Irene was her positive outlook throughout.
"She visited the hospital thirteen times in four years and, despite the pain and discomfort that she had to cope with, she never complained."
Mr Yarrow said his wife had an impressive job working on the London Stock Exchange Floor as a dealer for stockbrokers Rowe and Pitman and Pike and Bryant in the 1970s.
Irene was presented to the Queen because she was only one of two females allowed on the Stock Exchange Floor at that time.
She married John in 1975 in Wanstead, London, then after four years of marriage she became pregnant in 1979.
The family settled in Billericay 30 years ago.
Mrs Yarrow became involved in the Catholic Playgroup.
"She had an immense love for children and was always laughing and encouraging them," Mr Yarrow explained.
She also did charity work while she had cancer including running in Cancer Research UK's Race for Life several times. Irene also helped out at St Peter's Primary School as a teaching assistant.
Mr Yarrow will be holding a book signing with his novel at The Reading Rooms in Billericay High Street on September 28 from 9am until 5.30pm.
All proceeds of the book, priced £5.99, will go towards Helen Rollason Cancer Charity and HSBC will be matching all funds raised.
There will also be a second signing at Asda in Pipps Hill Retail Park, Miles Gray Road, Basildon, on October 26.
For more information, visit www.ireneyarrow inspirationalcancer journey.com
