The cancer fight which made Beverley Craven resolve to follow her heart

And nothing demonstrated that more clearly for 51-year-old Beverley, who shot to fame with the hit single Promise Me in 1991, than the loss of her sister Kathy to cancer at the age of just 44 earlier this year.

She was also shocked to discover that for hereditary reasons her three daughters Mollie, Brenna and Connie have a higher than average chance of developing breast cancer at some point in their lives.

Before her devastating diagnosis in 2004, Beverley had, following Promise Me, secured her position as one of Britain’s most successful female singer-songwriters with a string of other successes including Holding On and Woman to Woman.

However, after undergoing extensive treatment, Beverley was given the all-clear and she stepped back into the limelight in 2009.

Beverley told the Herald: “Being diagnosed with cancer changes one’s perspective on life — it brings into sharp focus what’s important and underlines the fact that life is short.”

Part of that re-evaluation of her life saw Beverley leave her singer-songwriter husband Colin Campsie in 2010, a split that ended in divorce the following year.

Beverley said: “Yes, the last few years have been very difficult. It’s not often that divorce is mutually agreed or amicable but, for me, it was the right thing to do.

“My children are now 22, 19 and 18 so, as much as the break-up of my marriage wasn’t ideal for them, by the time I finally made the decision to leave I felt they were all old enough to understand and come to terms with it.

“Ultimately, my girls want me to be happy. The older I get the more I realise that you have to follow your heart and trust your instincts. Therein lies happiness.”

Beverley described her discovery from a genetic counsellor that her daughters had a higher-than-average chance — 50-50 — of also falling victim to breast cancer as “deeply distressing”.

“My cousin, Sara died at the age of 46 from breast cancer, and my aunt had bi-lateral breast cancer too. With my diagnosis in 2005 and with my younger sister, Kathy, who sadly lost her fight earlier this year at the age of 44, my girls are at least going to be vigilant and take the threat of possibly developing the disease very seriously.

“Many women suffer with this awful illness, and catching it early is paramount. Forewarned is forearmed, and the fact that my girls are completely aware of our apparent genetic predisposition gives them a better chance of dealing with it.”

Asked how she felt to be then told by each of her daughters separately that they would definitely consider mastectomies after having children of their own, Beverley said: “Unfortunately, as things are with breast cancer at the moment, it’s a realistic option.

“Angelina Jolie was unbelievably courageous and candid to go public about having had a risk-reducing double mastectomy. I think she’s enabled other women, who are in the same position, to know that they lose none of their femininity in undergoing the operation.”

When Beverley was diagnosed with breast cancer, her younger twin sisters Kathy and Clare immediately enrolled in screening programmes — mammograms and MRIs.

“Kathy underwent a double mastectomy three years ago when she was found to have precancerous cells in one breast.

“So it was a huge shock when, a year later, it was discovered that the cancer had already metastasised (spread) to her liver,” said Beverley. “She went through so much . . . chemo and SIRT (selective internal radiotherapy treatment) but her cancer was very aggressive and there was nothing that could be done.

“My girls witnessed how harrowing it was for the whole family to lose Kath. We are all still mourning our loss.”

Beverley clearly believes that watching what we eat and taking plenty of regular exercise can play an important in fighting back against the risk of cancer.

“My own belief is that our diets are ridiculously inadequate, which seriously compromises our immune systems. We’re surrounded by, and fill up on, nutritionally-deficient fast food, sugary deserts, high-fat, high-salt content rubbish!

“We should all be eating far more vegetables and fruit — ten portions per day, and preferably organic as it has a higher nutritional value. We need to eat far less dairy products, less meat and more fibre and whole foods.”

She added: “My hair is my ‘barometer’ — when I start shedding I know I need to concentrate more on what I’m putting into my body. Iron is extremely important for women, especially if pre-menopausal. I used to be extremely strict with my diet, but it takes an awful lot of planning, especially when I’m working or out on the road.

“Exercise too, strengthens the immune system and helps to regulate hormones. Most breast cancers are ‘fed’ by oestrogen, which wouldn’t ordinarily be a problem, but given that we are surrounded by man-made oestrogens, which are present in plastic packaging, cling film etc, we need to try to counter its effects. Sugar also feeds tumours, and stress lowers the immune system too.”

Now some of Beverley’s experiences of life can be found in the 11 songs on her new album Change of Heart, including the single You Belong to Someone Else, some of which she will be performing when her latest 36-date nationwide tour stops at The Beacon (formerly the Civic Hall) in Wantage on Friday, October 24.

And, for the singer-songwriter, the thrill of performing is even greater nowadays than in her heyday 20 years ago.

“I love performing now,” she said, “it’s a bit more tiring than it was 20 years ago, but a lot more fun! I don’t really get nervous any more — just excited, and I have a lot more songs to pick and choose from, so I can vary the set.

“Lots of the new songs are about my life — it’s my form of therapy. I think most writers use their personal experiences, and many of us go through the same things in life. I love it when other people can relate to my stuff, and make my songs their own.”

With lots of her songs taking romance as their theme, has she found a new love of her own?

“I was dating a photographer for a few months, but that was quite a while ago now,” she said. “I’m ready to fall in love again, but he’ll have to be someone pretty special who can deal with my need for solitude and space. I’d never marry again.”