Hancock was married to Thaw until his death (also from oesophageal cancer) on 21 February 2002. Hancock herself was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1988, but made a full recovery. Her 2004 book, "The Two of Us" is a dual biography, which gives accounts of both their lives, as well as focusing on their 28-year marriage. This was followed by the 2008 book, "Just Me", an account of coming to terms with widowhood. In 2014 she published her debut novel, "Miss Carter's War".