Blanche d’Alpuget reveals breast cancer diagnosis

Less than a year since the death of her husband, Bob Hawke’s widow Blanche d’Apulget is undergoing chemotherapy.

Blanche d'Alpuget has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Picture: Tim Pascoe

Australian writer and widow of Bob Hawke, Blanche d’Alpuget, has revealed she is battling breast cancer. It comes less than a year after the death of her husband, the former prime minister.

Ms d’Alpuget confirmed the diagnosis in an interview with The Sunday Telegraph. The 76-year-old is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment at Kinghorn Cancer Centre in Sydney.

“I detected the lump in my left breast about six or seven weeks ago,” she said.

“You never think you’re going to get cancer — not at my age, but it happens.”

She urged women to be vigilant in getting regular health check ups.

Blanche d’Alpuget and her late husband Bob Hawke, who died last May.

“I found my lump by accident.”

The author and biographer was the second wife of Mr Hawke, who died at the age of 89 in May last year and was farewelled in a state funeral.

The news comes as Ms d’Alpuget is preparing to face her stepdaughter, Ros Dillon, in a private mediation over the division of Mr Hawke’s estate. The dispute will go before NSW Supreme Court Justice Philip Hallen on May 7.

Ms Dillon is seeking $4.2 million from her father’s estate.