My name is Chloë. I am a writer, poet and artist and I'm in remission from breast cancer. I am the creator of Chemotherapy Airways.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I underwent 2 surgeries, 6 cycles of chemotherapy and 20 doses of radiotherapy. When I was told I was going to need chemotherapy, the images that came to mind were those I'd seen in the media. These always seemed to be of ashen, thin and bald people looking sad and feeling terribly sick. I understand the value of those images for drama in movies or for fundraising, but as a patient I found them deeply distressing.

Those images did not turn out to be my reality, nor do they for a lot of patients. They also help perpetuate the death stigma around cancer even though more people survive the disease than ever before. This helps cancer remain taboo, particularly in certain communities or when cancer affects intimate parts of the body. I want to change that.

Following my first dose of chemotherapy, inspired by the often disliked expression "the cancer journey", I wrote Chemotherapy Airways. I have now turned it into a short film which will be launching online on 7th October 2025, to coincide with breast cancer awareness month.

I want the film to redress the narrative around cancer, to counteract the frightening images of chemotherapy and to show solidarity. I want it to break some of the taboos, to open dialogue and to entertain and comfort patients and their loved ones during a difficult time. I want to give people permission to laugh about cancer and to create a universe into which patients can escape. Will you help me get the word out there?

A picture of Chloë Jacquet smiling, standing at a microphone against a blue background with a book in her hand.

ARTIST'S STATEMENT

CAST & CREW

Chloë, an olive-skinned white woman, is wearing a hot pink and black flight attendant uniform. She is onboard the Chemotherapy Airways plane, smiling to camera, putting a suitcase into one of the overhead compartments.

Chloë Jacquet - Writer, Creator, Actor (Fluorouracil & Daytime TV Presenter)

Ben, a white man with brown hair and a close cropped beard, wears a pilot uniform, aviator sunglasses and a pilot's headset. He is turned towards the camera, leaning on the dashboard of his plane's cockpit.

Ben Williams - Graphic designer, Actor (Captain NHS & Daytime TV Presenter), Runner

Steph, a white woman with long brown hair and wearing a patterned dress, is looking down, smiling broadly whilst wearing headphones and holding a microphone.

Stephanie Cobban - Director, Editor

Chris, a white man with short brown hair and wearing a grey shirt, stands looking down the lens of a large video camera.

Chris Fenton - Director of Photography

Lea, a white woman with fair hair, black leggings and a brown jacket, stands pushing a branded airline trolley. She is smiling and waving to the camera.

Lea Tönnis - Runner

COMING SOON!
WRITER TURNED CANCER SURVIVOR REIMAGINES CHEMO AS A DARKLY FUNNY AIRLINE FLIGHT

Writer turned cancer survivor Chloë Jacquet transforms trauma into art with wit and humanity in Chemotherapy Airways, a short film based on her own experience of receiving treatment.

1 in 2 people are affected by cancer in their lifetime. The imagery portrayed by the media around chemotherapy usually features pale, thin and bald people looking sad and feeling terribly sick. Whilst there is great value to such images for drama in movies or for fundraising, for patients they can be deeply distressing and not all chemotherapy patients end up that way. Those images also help perpetuate the death stigma around cancer even though more people survive it than ever before. This helps cancer remain taboo, particularly in certain communities or when cancer affects intimate parts of the body.

In her short film, supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, Chloë uses her artist's perspective to challenge those cancer narratives and turns chemo into a surreal flight. It was the phrase "the cancer journey" which initially sparked the idea. The viewer gets to travel onboard a Chemotherapy Airways plane where rather than life vests, passengers are offered life pyjamas, where all the food tastes the same and the trolley is filled with duty-free medication.

Chloë combines art with illness and brings the funny to the unfunny. The result is at once moving, amusing and comforting. Chemotherapy Airways is an empowering conversation starter which allows chemo patients to feel less alone and the general public to gain a better understanding of the challenges cancer treatments can present.

Now board, buckle up, and prepare for take-off!

DOWNLOADABLE MEDIA (click to download)

Posters:

Stills:

A female flight attendant smiles to camera whilst putting a suitcase in an overhead compartment

CONTACT

For booking enquiries and media contact:

info@chemotherapyairways.com

"Thank you, Chloe, for making this brilliant film that will resonate with so many people who have had chemotherapy and am sure will help others who are about to embark on treatment. Your film makes chemotherapy more accessible – a light-hearted approach but shared with compassion and understanding of what people face."

Nicola Peregrine, Centre Head, Maggie's in Cheltenham

The film and its radio version launched online at

7.30 pm on Wednesday 4th February 2026 to coincide with World Cancer Day.

SYNOPSIS

Welcome aboard this Chemotherapy Airways flight to Survival. Fluorouracil heads the cabin crew and Captain NHS is your pilot. Fasten your infusion, put on your life pyjamas and come on this 8 minute chemotherapy journey.