Antiques Roadshow expert Theo Burrell has bravely shared a graphic image of her surgery scar following a major operation to treat a terminal brain tumour. The 38-year-old presenter posted the picture on Instagram, showing her shaved head and a long, stitched wound, asking her followers to 'forgive her war wound'.
An Emotional Update on a 'Gory' Reality
Theo Burrell, who joined the BBC's Antiques Roadshow in 2018, did not shy away from the harsh reality of her condition. She revealed she had just had the stitches removed from the wound on her head. "Forgive me the gory photo but here’s my war wound!" she wrote. "Healing nicely, and my stitches are now out."
The antiques specialist explained that her immediate focus was on meeting her oncology team to discuss the next phase of her treatment plan. She added with characteristic resilience: "I will be strutting into the hospital with a head of properly washed hair (well what’s left of it!) Taking the wins, however small or large."
A Terminal Diagnosis and Ongoing Battle
Theo was diagnosed with a terminal glioblastoma in 2022. This is an aggressive and fast-spreading form of brain cancer that grows quickly and can invade healthy tissue. Despite the devastating prognosis, which she has been told is around two years, Theo has continued to appear on Antiques Roadshow between treatments.
She has been undergoing chemotherapy, which she said helped halt the cancer's progression but left her with severe fatigue and regular headaches. Last year, she also experienced a seizure-like episode that required hospital checks.
Clear Scans and a Bittersweet Milestone
In a positive update last September, Theo shared that her scans continued to be clear, with no active cancer cells detected. However, she admitted the chemotherapy remained gruelling, often leaving her bedridden for days. "The thought of any more chemo is making me miserable," she confessed at the time.
The same month brought a profoundly emotional personal milestone. Theo penned a moving tribute to her young son, Jonah, on his first day of primary school—a moment she feared she would never live to see after her diagnosis when he was just 19 months old. "I definitely did not think that I would get to see him start school," she wrote, expressing immense gratitude.
Fans of the BBC show have flooded her social media with support, calling her "incredible" and a "true fighter". Theo Burrell's candid updates continue to shed light on her difficult journey with glioblastoma, balancing moments of hope with the stark challenges of her treatment.
