Bucks Fizz's Jay Aston has mouth cancer.
Jay Aston
The 'Making Your Mind Up' hitmaker has revealed she's battling with the disease and, although doctors have warned her she may never talk again if she goes through with the treatment to remove part of her tongue, the 57-year-old singer has admitted she has no choice but to have the operation because she has a young daughter.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror newspaper, she said: "I think if they take more of my tongue away the chances of me singing, even talking, will be very slim.
"I have a young daughter, I want to see her grow up, I want to see her get married and see her grandchildren."
The blonde singer has admitted she burst into tears when doctors told her that she had mouth cancer but the thought of rejoining Bucks Fizz is "keeping her going".
She explained: "After they told me, I got on the train and bawled my eyes out. Everyone was looking at me. I called my husband, and then Cheryl [Baker, her band mate]. The thought of rejoining the band is keeping me going.
"Being on stage with them is my happy place. Whatever you go through, it doesn't matter when you are on stage."
To make sure that she could continue with the band after she had her biopsy, Jay recorded some vocals beforehand so that she can mime and dance on stage otherwise it will mean she'll have to sell her home and will struggle to pay her bills.
She said: "They can't say whether I'll be able to sing like I used to. It's made me realise I completely took my singing for granted. Now I realise the talent I had is possibly going to go. I am determined to be back this summer. I'll mime, I won't be able to dance, and skirt-ripping will be interesting but it's getting me through."
Jay is currently working with the surgeons so that the skin removed from her leg can be added to her tongue in the hope that it'll be high enough for her to sing again.
Tagged in Cheryl Baker