Davina McCall, the celebrated television presenter, has disclosed that she recently underwent surgery for breast cancer nearly three weeks ago.
In a video shared on her Instagram account, the Comic Relief host expressed her initial frustration upon discovering the diagnosis but affirmed she now feels “much more positive”.
McCall, 58, stated that she detected a lump during a self-examination and promptly sought medical evaluation. “It was very, very small, so I got it very, very early which is incredibly lucky. But I am so relieved to have had it removed and to know that it hasn’t spread,” she added.
The former Big Brother presenter extended her gratitude to the medical staff at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, where she underwent a lumpectomy. She also strongly encouraged women to prioritize regular breast examinations.
This announcement comes a year after McCall underwent surgery to remove a rare brain tumour. A colloid cyst was identified during a health check-up related to her advocacy work on menopause, and McCall subsequently confirmed she received the all-clear following MRI scans.
McCall began her Instagram post by stating to her 2.1 million followers: “I’m talking about this because I think it might help someone. And this is what I always do.”
She explained that she discovered a lump a few weeks prior, which “came and went,” but was motivated to seek examination after seeing posters promoting breast checks while working on ITV’s The Masked Singer and Lorraine show.
She noted that presenter Lorraine Kelly had placed signs on the backs of all the doors stating “check your breasts” and “every time I went for a wee I did that”.
“It [the lump] was still there, and then one morning I saw myself in the mirror and thought “I’m going to get that looked at”. I had a biopsy. I found out it was indeed breast cancer.”
McCall shared that she will undergo five days of radiotherapy in January “as kind of an insurance policy” and will then embark on a “journey to try and stop it ever coming back”.
She emphasized: “I think my message is: get checked if you’re worried. Check yourself regularly. If you are due a mammogram, then get it done.”
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust reports that 70% of cancers detected were at an early stage.
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