Bob Hawke’s widow faces heartbreaking cancer diagnoses less than a year after husband’s death
Bob Hawke’s widow Blanche d’Alpuget has been diagnosed with breast cancer less than one year after the death of her “soulmate”.
The 76-year-old recently revealed that she is undergoing chemotherapy at the Kinghorn Cancer Centre in Darlinghurst, Sydney.
“I detected the lump in my left breast about six or seven weeks ago,” she told The Sunday Telegraph.
Ms d’Alpuget strongly advised older women to get their breasts checked regularly after discovering the cancerous lump by “accident”.
“You never think you’re going to get cancer – not at my age, but it happens. I’d like to encourage all older women to have their breasts checked. I found the lump by accident,” she said.
Her husband and former prime minister died last year on May 16, aged 89. He held office from 1983 to 1991, making him the longest serving Labor leader.
The news comes after Mr Hawke’s youngest daughter, Ms Dillon is contesting his will and claiming the $750,000 he left each of his children isn’t enough.
Ms Dillon has demanded funds to purchase a $2.5 million house in Sydney – furnished with towels worth $4000 – and wants $30,000 for a new set of teeth.
Ms d’Alpuget will face her stepdaughter for a private mediation on May 7 – less than two weeks before the first anniversary of Mr Hawke’s death.