Talking openly about her cancer diagnosis, Tracey Emin says she feels ‘luckier’ than coronavirus patients
The artist reveals more about her battle with cancer

The year has been bleak for many but for Tracey Emin, 2020 was the year she found out she had cancer. Now in remission and ready to open her latest exhibition The Loneliness of the Soul (lockdown permitting), she says she feels luckier than coronavirus patients, despite her cancer diagnosis earlier this year.
“Even when I thought I had six months to live, I was luckier than them. I wasn’t going to die alone – and if it was going to be six months, I at least had time to plan my last days.” Emin told The Guardian.
The six-hour operation that followed the diagnosis to remove the tumour also meant Emin lost her uterus, bladder, fallopian tubes, ovaries, lymph nodes, part of her colon, urethra and some of her vagina. For such an intense operation, Emin is remarkably upbeat, revealing to The Guardian how she felt the 'curse' that had followed her life had lifter after surgery.
“I did feel cursed most of my life and then after this one, when they took my bladder out, I thought, ‘Fucking brilliant! This manky old thing that’s caused me problems all my life has gone.’ And the curse that was like thrown on me has gone with it. It’s in the incinerator. I’m free of that now.”
Now, Emin is planning on moving to a different area of London, where she can hear the birds sing and is looking ahead to a full recovery, “I can’t walk that far really. I can’t run. I can’t do a lot of things. It’ll take about six months before I’m better” but in true Emin style the exhibitions will continue, “I will find love! I will have exhibitions. I will enjoy my life!” and for that we couldn’t be happier.
-
-
What color suits me? How to pinpoint the most flattering shades for you
Looking through your wardrobe and asking, what color suits me? Enter our expert guide on the best color matches for your skin tone.
By Lauren Hughes •
-
Woman&Home's Vanity Edit: New makeup, skincare, and beauty products we love this week
We underscore the latest and greatest beauty heroes on the market, from whimsical collections to astrology-inspired eyeshadow. Here's what's currently in trend.
By Dominique McIntee •
-
Will Trooping the Colour take place in 2021?
The royal event was cancelled last year
By Sarah Finley •
-
Line of Duty star reveals serious season 6 twist - are you ready for this?
This is one twist we didn’t see coming...
By Emma Shacklock •
-
Why does Gabrielle cover one eye and what are the effects of ptosis?
Gabrielle was recently un-masked on The Masked Singer
By Georgia Farquharson •
-
The sentimental meaning behind Jennifer Aniston’s tattoo revealed
The star has a particularly intriguing tattoo…
By Emma Shacklock •
-
Dr. Jill Biden reveals her phone was confiscated on arrival at the White House
Dr. Jill Biden told a student that her cell phone was taken away when she entered office, during a visit to a middle school in Pennsylvania
By Emma Dooney •
-
This is the stunning £3m mansion Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall lived in before marrying Charles
It also has some other royal connections
By Sarah Finley •
-
Adele finalizes her divorce from Simon Konecki after a two-year battle over finances
The singer is worth $190m and it's taken two years to agree on the split
By Selina Maycock •
-
Alec Baldwin deletes Twitter following Gillian Anderson accent comment
Gillian Anderson’s accent can change from British to American
By Emma Shacklock •