Television presenter Davina McCall has shared an emotional health update with her followers, revealing she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The star announced the news in a heartfelt video posted to her Instagram on Saturday, detailing her journey from discovery to treatment.
The Discovery and Diagnosis
Davina explained that she first found a lump in her breast while filming for the popular ITV show, The Masked Singer. She credited a specific awareness campaign for prompting her to take action. Posters for Lorraine Kelly's 'Change and Check' campaign, spotted in the toilets at the Lorraine studio, encouraged her to examine herself.
"One morning I saw it in the mirror and I thought, 'I'm going to get that looked at'," Davina told her followers. After a biopsy confirmed it was cancer, she underwent a lumpectomy nearly three weeks ago to remove the tumour. Fortunately, the surgery was a success with clear margins, and her lymph nodes were also clear, meaning the cancer had not spread.
Overwhelming Support and a Crucial Campaign
Fellow TV host Lorraine Kelly has since spoken out about her friend's diagnosis on Good Morning Britain. "I'm just really sorry that Davina had to go through that but it's fantastic that she caught it early, that's brilliant," Lorraine stated.
She highlighted the importance of the 'Change and Check' campaign, which was the brainchild of her producer, Helen Addis, after her own cancer experience. The campaign has now helped more than 100 women and one man detect their cancer early. "It's all over the country... it's just great that Davina saw it and so many others," Lorraine added, sending her love to Davina and everyone facing a similar battle.
The Road to Recovery
Davina emphasised in her video that she found the cancer "very, very early", which she considers incredibly lucky. Her next step is a preventative course of five days of radiotherapy scheduled for January, which she describes as an "insurance policy".
She expressed immense gratitude to the staff at the Royal Marsden hospital and her family, especially her "brilliant kids" and partner Michael, for their support. After initial anger following the diagnosis, Davina says she is now in a "much more positive place".
Her powerful message to the public is clear: "Get checked if you're worried, check yourself regularly." She also urged women not to delay important screenings, sharing that she had postponed an ultrasound after a clear mammogram in August due to her dense breast tissue, a decision she now regrets.
