Georgie Crawford's 'greatest gift' from her cancer battle was getting to know herself inside and out

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Georgie Crawford has opened up on the "greatest gift" her cancer battle has given her.

The author and podcast host was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 and was given the all clear in late 2018 after receiving extensive treatment.

The mum-of-two is incredibly in tune with her body and mind now, prioritising her physical and mental health daily.

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She admitted that being aware of how she is feeling and getting to know herself was the only upside of the awful event - but admits it can also be hard to be so hyper-aware of it.

Speaking to RSVP Magazine, Georgie explained: "I think anyone who’s come through a disease and has come out the other side is hyper-aware, almost too aware, of what’s going on inside your body. But honestly, one of the greatest gifts I was given from my diagnosis was truly getting to know myself inside and out. Knowing how I feel today and questioning that and bringing things up with people if I’m feeling a little bit off or a little bit vulnerable. It was one of the greatest gifts, but sometimes you are so aware of everything."

The Good Glow host also said that her cancer diagnosis is a huge contributing factor to the importance she puts on looking after herself inside and out now.

"It’s hard not to say my cancer diagnosis, because obviously it’s always on my mind, but I do try to reframe how I think about life. Instead of looking back, I try to look forward," said Georgie. "Instead of thinking, ‘I have to go on a run because I had cancer’, or ‘I have to eat well because I had cancer’, I say to myself, ‘I want to go for a run so that I get to live for my daughters. I want to eat well so I get to live a long, healthy and happy life’. I try to look forward as much as possible and see myself there, at let’s say my daughter’s wedding and living a long and happy life.

"It’s very difficult after a cancer diagnosis to navigate a way forward. I’m nearly seven years out now and thankfully I’m still well, but I won’t lie to you and say it’s not hard every single day, because it still is."

Georgie has teamed up with Specsavers to launch their nationwide short story competition. The competition was launched to help celebrate Specsavers’ sponsorship of the Junior and Senior Children’s Book of the Year categories at the An Post Irish Book Awards 2024. Check out the full details at specsavers.ie/irish-book-awards

Read Georgie's interview in full in the new issue of RSVP Magazine, on shelves now.