Bucks Fizz star Jay Aston reveals she has mouth cancer and risks losing her voice for good as she prepares for operation to remove part of her tongue

Eurovision Song Contest winner discovered she had pre-cancerous cells in April
'The chances of me singing, even talking, will be very slim,' she said of her op
Surgeons will use flesh from the singer's thigh to rebuild her tongue

Published: 01:34 BST, 26 June 2018 | Updated: 09:47 BST, 26 June 2018

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Bucks Fizz singer Jay Aston has revealed she has mouth cancer and faces the very real possibility of losing her voice following an operation to remove part of her tongue.

The 57-year old discovered she had pre-cancerous cells in April, and is now preparing for make-or-break surgery that risks compromising her decades-spanning career with the former Eurovision Song Contest winning pop group.

‘I think if they take more of my tongue away the chances of me singing, even talking, will be very slim,’ she told the Daily Mirror.

Fears: Bucks Fizz singer Jay Aston has revealed she has mouth cancer and faces the very real possibility of losing her voice following an operation to remove part of her tongue

Jay was given the grim cancer diagnosis after seeking medical attention for irritable auto-immune condition lichen planus, which had manifested itself as a rash on her tongue.

And she admits bursting into tears while breaking the news to band-mate Cheryl Baker, one of her closest friends, and musician husband Dave Colquhoun, with whom she raises 15-year old daughter Josie.

‘I have a young daughter, I want to see her grow up, I want to see her get married and see her grandchildren,’ she said. 'The first thing I said [after the diagnosis] is, “I want to be here for her.”'

Devastated: The 57-year old discovered she had pre-cancerous cells in April, and is now preparing for make-or-break surgery that risks compromising her decades-spanning career

The singer initially had a sliver of tongue removed for a biopsy, but admits she was unconcerned because only 2% of cases prove to be cancerous and she had displayed no physical signs of illness, other than fatigue.

But knowing the biopsy would affect her voice for a period of weeks, Jay - who is currently touring the UK with her Bucks Fizz band mates - recorded a slew of vocals for her to mime to while on the road.

However doctors are hopeful that the cancer has been caught early and remain confident that she will be able to sing again in a year should her imminent operation be a success.

Emotional: Jay admits bursting into tears while breaking the news to musician husband Dave Colquhoun, with whom she raises 15-year old daughter Josie

Determined: ‘I have a young daughter, I want to see her grow up, I want to see her get married and see her grandchildren,’ she said (pictured with daughter Josie)

They will use flesh from the singer's thigh to rebuild the affected piece of her tongue, while lymph glands will also be removed from her neck.

Radiotherapy could be an additional alternative as a preference to undergoing further, potentially damaging surgery.

But while medical professionals are hoping for the best, Jay admits she can't help dwelling on the worst case scenario.

'They can’t say whether I’ll be able to sing like I used to,' she added. 'It’s made me realise I completely took my singing for granted. Now I realise the talent I had is possibly going to go.'

She added: 'It’s difficult to even write songs without putting the vocal down. I would have to rethink my whole life. I absolutely need the band, I would probably have to sell my home.'

Old times: (L-R) Bucks Fizz stars Mike Nolan, Cheryl Baker, Jay Aston and Bobby Gee in 1981

Bucks Fizz sold more than 50-million records during their heyday before disbanding in 1988, two-years after the release of their final album - Writing On The Wall.

The split following a turbulent period that included the acrimonious departure of Jay, who later rejoined the band, and a coach crash that almost cost Mike Nolan his life.

The singer suffered internal bleeding and spent three days in a coma after the tour bus ushering them from a concert in Newcastle crashed into road works in 1984.

Locked in a legal dispute with former member Bobby Gee which prevents them from using the name Bucks Fizz, Jay, Cheryl and Mike now perform as a three-piece under the abbreviated The Fizz.

Speaking in 2017, Jay said: 'Despite the challenges over the years, we are more united than ever. The fans have been with us all the way.'

Acrimony: Locked in a legal dispute with former member Bobby Gee which prevents them from using the name Bucks Fizz, Jay, Cheryl and Mike now perform as a three-piece under the abbreviated The Fizz