after newspapers printed barbs about her appearance.

Other public figures have only chosen to discuss the disease after a successful treatment. The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, only disclosed he had prostate cancer after his successful operation in May this year. And comic actor Jennifer Saunders publicly spoke about her breast cancer after eight months' treatment.

Image caption Dominique Bertinotti says she didn't want to place cancer at the centre of things

But others are open from an early stage. Vinnie Jones, the footballer-turned-actor, revealed this week he was being treated for malignant melanoma skin cancer and TV host Sir Michael Parkinson announced earlier this year he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Does being a public figure play a role in the choice people make not to reveal their disease?Being in the public eye is an additional burden when coping with a life-changing diagnosis.

Bertinotti spoke about her condition only to a handful of family members, a friend, three people from her staff and President Francois Hollande.

Image caption Vinnie Jones revealed he had had several lumps removed

"Would I have remained silent if I hadn't been a political woman?" she told Le Monde newspaper. "I don't know. Instinctively, I didn't want to place the cancer at the centre. I was OK with being a minister, who was sick, not a sick person who was a minister. It is such a shock. I didn't feel strong enough to handle the look of the others in addition."

"I can understand why some people would choose to keep it secret because if they