Just five days before her tragic death from breast cancer last weekend the 77-year-old said she wanted people to see her as “an example of strength” as she battled with the disease.
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Sandra Bullock and Jackie’s sister, the actress Dame Joan Collins, led tributes to the author when news spread of her death.
Jackie had kept her battle largely a secret from everyone, including Joan until two weeks ago. “If you have a positive attitude, you can conquer anything”.
When asked why she waited so long to tell her sibling, Jackie told People magazine: ‘Because it would really have affected her. I just felt she didn’t need it in her life. I have a chronic disease.
Collins’ friend Christopher Biggins has revealed the send-off is to take place in Beverly Hills, California and will feature a lavish bash for all her pals.
She added: “I’ve had to deal with losing my mother (to breast cancer), my husband (prostate cancer) and my fiancé (lung cancer) and I did not want to put pressure on everybody in the family”.
Less than a week before her passing, Jackie shared her illness with People magazine.
Although Jackie knew she should seek medical help, she was “completely doctor-phobic” and couldn’t bring herself to do so. We’re all going to go at some time.
For her the cancer was not “silent” and she would often get a ‘wavy feeling’.
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Collins admitted that she’d had a series of treatments including a lumpectomy, radiation and various drug combinations. “Jackie organised everything”.
