Television presenter Davina McCall has shared a deeply personal health update with her fans, revealing she was diagnosed with breast cancer just six weeks ago. This shocking news comes only twelve months after the star underwent major surgery to remove a rare benign brain tumour.
Shock Cancer Diagnosis
Taking to Instagram, the 58-year-old explained that she first discovered a lump in her breast while filming for The Masked Singer. McCall noted that the lump seemed to come and go, but a public health sign in the toilets at the Lorraine studio, urging women to check their breasts, prompted her to take persistent action.
"Every time I went for a wee I did that, and it was still there," McCall told her followers. She subsequently underwent a biopsy, which confirmed the presence of breast cancer. Fortunately, the disease was detected at a very early stage, and McCall has since had a successful lumpectomy to remove the cancer.
A Year of Health Challenges
This latest diagnosis follows a significant health scare in November 2024, when McCall was "blindsided" by the discovery of a 14mm benign brain tumour. Despite her famously healthy and active lifestyle, she was told the tumour, described as very rare, needed to be removed surgically to prevent potential future complications.
In an emotional video at the time, she asked her fans to "say a prayer for me" before the operation, which required a nine-day hospital stay. Her recovery was supported by her boyfriend, Michael Douglas, who reassured the public she was in "great shape" and in good hands.
A Lifetime of Health Advocacy
McCall's openness about her recent health battles is part of a broader pattern of candour. She has become a prominent advocate for women's health, particularly concerning the menopause. She has spoken about how perimenopause symptoms, including mental fog and depression, left her fearing she would "never work again."
Her acclaimed 2021 documentary, Sex, Myths and the Menopause, helped shatter taboos and spark a national conversation about the condition.
Furthermore, McCall has been transparent about her past struggles with a severe drug addiction that began in her teenage years. Before her 16th birthday, she had already tried cocaine and heroin. Her dependency continued into her twenties, leading to a frightening accidental overdose.
A pivotal moment came when a close friend confronted her, telling her that her drug use was the talk of all their social circles. This tough love, coupled with support from her then-boyfriend Eric Clapton and Narcotics Anonymous, helped her get clean at age 25. She credits her sobriety with enabling her to land her career-making job at MTV.
From the "dark place" of addiction to the shock of a brain tumour and now a breast cancer diagnosis, Davina McCall continues to use her platform to raise awareness, encourage early detection, and demonstrate remarkable resilience in the face of life's challenges.
