Latest news with #BeginAgain
Irish Independent
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Davina McCall ‘wrote letters and a will' before brain tumour surgery
The presenter (57) underwent an operation in November 2024 to remove a colloid cyst, which was found after she was offered a health check-up as part of her menopause advocacy work. Recently, McCall was given the all clear - but she has now spoken about her worries before the operation, saying she wrote letters and organised a will in case something happened during the operation. Speaking to radio presenter Jamie Theakston on her podcast Begin Again, she explained: 'I have never had thought processes like I had before my operation. 'Some people were like 'You were quite extreme' because I was like I need to make sure everyone is alright if I die, will, letters.' When Theakston asked if she really did that, she replied: 'Yeah. I mean I was literally telling everybody [that I was fine]. 'But being on an operating table is a risk at our age.' On the show, Theakston also spoke about his experience with stage one laryngeal cancer. The presenter returned to his Heart breakfast show earlier this year, after saying he was 'cancer free'. 'I feel in a much better place not only physically but also mentally because I have learnt so much about myself, and about how strong you can be,' he added. 'I've learnt about other people, about friends and family about how important they can be. ADVERTISEMENT 'Supporting, being there, not taking them for granted. It has been a real gift. 'Often when bad things happen to us, in the aftermath of that there can be good things to take from it and I really do feel that I am a better person because of what I have been through than what I was before.' McCall has been updating her fans on her recovery online and in her 'final brain surgery update' last month, the presenter said she feels 'lucky to be able to draw a line under this' when 'so many people can't'. In an Instagram video, where she appeared alongside her partner, celebrity hairdresser Michael Douglas, she said: 'We thought we'd post a final brain operation update. 'So last week I had my final MRI and I was a bit nervous about it because I knew that if any of it was left then it would grow back and I'd just go through the whole thing again, which I was prepared to do. 'I kind of mentally prepared myself for that.' A picture of the MRI scan was shown on screen and McCall said the scan was 'clear'.
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Julia Bradbury shares her mastectomy scars and says they are a sign of 'resilience' and 'survival' after breast cancer battle
Julia Bradbury has proudly shared her surgery scars after undergoing a mastectomy in her fight against breast cancer. The Countryfile presenter, 53, was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2021 and underwent a mastectomy to have her 6cm tumour removed. The TV host took to Instagram on Tuesday and shared a close-up shot of her breast along with a message that scars are a sign of 'resilience'. She wrote: 'In Japan, there's a tradition called Kintsugi — the art of mending broken pottery with gold. Instead of hiding the cracks, this practice highlights them, celebrating the object's history and uniqueness. 'Why does this matter to us? From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'Just like those vessels, our scars — emotional or physical — are not flaws to be concealed. They're stories of resilience, growth, and transformation. Each mark is a testament to our journey and strength. 'What if we viewed our imperfections as our most beautiful features?' Julia believes scars are a sign of 'survival' and 'strength'. She added: 'Embracing our scars doesn't mean we haven't been hurt or been through hard things; it means we've healed, we've learned, and we've become more ourselves. 'Our scars are not marks of defeat but of survival, growth, and strength. Each line, each break, is a testament to the challenges we've faced and the resilience we've built. 'So, let's not shy away from them. Let's wear them with pride. They're the golden threads that weave the tapestry of our lives.' It comes after Julia recently broke down into tears as she recalled the moment she informed her husband, Gerard Cunningham, about her diagnosis. Appearing on Davina McCall 's Begin Again podcast, Julia spoke about the moment she phoned her partner, whom she has been married to since 2000, to break the devastating news. Julia said: 'I told him, and we cried. And I said, "I'll do whatever I have to do to get through this. I will do whatever it is".' Determined to fight, she expressed her readiness to face any challenge that may pop up ahead. 'If I have to lose a breast, I'll have to lose my hair. If I have to go, whatever it is I need to do,' she said. 'I'm going to do what I need to do to get through this.' Julia said fighting cancer is not the same for everyone. She said: 'Every type of cancer is different. Every type of breast cancer is different. 'You'll have a friend who's gone through breast cancer, and she and I will sit down and have a story, and we'll have had a different tumour in a different place, and it will behave differently. 'It's very complicated. And that's the reason why the war on cancer hasn't been won yet.' Julia shares her son Zephyr, 13, and her twin girls, Xanthe and Zena, eight, with her property developer husband, Gerard. In 2023, she spoke about her determination to 'stay alive' two years on from her breast cancer diagnosis. The journalist and TV presenter had the tumour, two lymph glands and her left breast removed before having reconstruction surgery. Julia has since revealed how her diagnosis changed her life, leading her to adopt a much healthier diet and go teetotal as she declared she will do everything possible to see her children grow up. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and affects more than two MILLION women a year Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Each year in the UK there are more than 55,000 new cases, and the disease claims the lives of 11,500 women. In the US, it strikes 266,000 each year and kills 40,000. But what causes it and how can it be treated? What is breast cancer? It comes from a cancerous cell which develops in the lining of a duct or lobule in one of the breasts. When the breast cancer has spread into surrounding tissue it is called 'invasive'. Some people are diagnosed with 'carcinoma in situ', where no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobule. Most cases develop in those over the age of 50 but younger women are sometimes affected. Breast cancer can develop in men, though this is rare. Staging indicates how big the cancer is and whether it has spread. Stage 1 is the earliest stage and stage 4 means the cancer has spread to another part of the body. The cancerous cells are graded from low, which means a slow growth, to high, which is fast-growing. High-grade cancers are more likely to come back after they have first been treated. What causes breast cancer? A cancerous tumour starts from one abnormal cell. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. It is thought that something damages or alters certain genes in the cell. This makes the cell abnormal and multiply 'out of control'. Although breast cancer can develop for no apparent reason, there are some risk factors that can increase the chance, such as genetics. What are the symptoms of breast cancer? The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast, although most are not cancerous and are fluid filled cysts, which are benign. The first place that breast cancer usually spreads to is the lymph nodes in the armpit. If this occurs you will develop a swelling or lump in an armpit. How is breast cancer diagnosed? Initial assessment: A doctor examines the breasts and armpits. They may do tests such as a mammography, a special x-ray of the breast tissue which can indicate the possibility of tumours. Biopsy: A biopsy is when a small sample of tissue is removed from a part of the body. The sample is then examined under a microscope to look for abnormal cells. The sample can confirm or rule out cancer. If you are confirmed to have breast cancer, further tests may be needed to assess if it has spread. For example, blood tests, an ultrasound scan of the liver or a chest X-ray. How is breast cancer treated? Treatment options which may be considered include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment. Often a combination of two or more of these treatments are used. Surgery: Breast-conserving surgery or the removal of the affected breast depending on the size of the tumour. Radiotherapy: A treatment which uses high energy beams of radiation focused on cancerous tissue. This kills cancer cells, or stops them from multiplying. It is mainly used in addition to surgery. Chemotherapy: A treatment of cancer by using anti-cancer drugs which kill cancer cells, or stop them from multiplying. Hormone treatments: Some types of breast cancer are affected by the 'female' hormone oestrogen, which can stimulate the cancer cells to divide and multiply. Treatments which reduce the level of these hormones, or prevent them from working, are commonly used in people with breast cancer. How successful is treatment? The outlook is best in those who are diagnosed when the cancer is still small, and has not spread. Surgical removal of a tumour in an early stage may then give a good chance of cure. The routine mammography offered to women between the ages of 50 and 71 means more breast cancers are being diagnosed and treated at an early stage.
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Davina McCall reveals she 'wrote letters and a will' before her brain tumour surgery 'in case she died' - as Jamie Theakston emotionally admits cancer has been a 'real gift'
has revealed she urgently wrote letters and a will before her brain tumour surgery to make sure 'everyone was okay if she died'. The presenter, 57, who is now in the all clear, was diagnosed with a colloid cyst, a rare type of benign brain tumour in November and underwent a six-hour operation. Prior to the life-threatening surgery, Davina admitted on her Begin Again podcast this week that she went to 'extreme' measures in case anything bad happened during the operation. Speaking to her guest Jamie Theakston about their respective cancer journeys, she explained: 'I have never had thought processes like I had before my operation. 'Some people were like "You were quite extreme" because I was like I need to make sure everyone is alright if I die, will, letters. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'You did that?', Jamie asked. 'Yeah. I mean I was literally telling everybody [that I was fine]. But being on an operating table is a risk at our age.' Last month Davina appeared in a video with her partner Michael Douglas, where she confirmed she had received the all clear after undergoing an MRI scan. The TV personality also shared unseen before and after snaps from her scan revealing that the tumour has completely disappeared from her brain. Accompanying the video, Davina wrote: 'So here it is. Our final brain surgery update. Had the final MRI this week. @ got everything out during surgery, it's not coming back. 'Thanks so so much to everyone at @onewelbeck and @clevelandclinic . To my mum and @mdlondon for taking such good care of me . To Sarah for being my BFF to my amazing kids. To @ for being the GOAT. 'I am so so grateful particularly because I know a lot of people have inoperable tumours and and I know I'm lucky to be able to draw a line under this and move on with my life when so many people can't. And I'm just gonna say this one more time. Benign does not mean fine.' She told how she had her final MRI and admitted that she was nervous' as if any of the tumour was left that it would grow back and she'd have to 'go through the whole thing again'. She noted that she'd 'mentally prepared herself' for that scenario, while Michael added that he too was nervous as it had been 'a huge journey'. Laughing with joy and relief, Davina then added: 'but it was clear!' Elsewhere in the podcast, Jamie, 54 - who is now cancer free - reflected on his emotional journey. Jamie announced he had been diagnosed with stage one laryngeal cancer in October 2024 after listeners had noticed there was something not right with his voice. It's cancer is a type of cancer that affects the larynx (voice box). The radio host, who has a monthly laryngoscopy check up, said that although he has been through hardship he admitted cancer has been a 'real gift' as he now doesn't take life or his family for granted. Jamie said: 'I feel in a much better place not only physically but also mentally because I have learnt so much about myself, and about how strong you can be. 'I've learnt about other people, about friends and family about how important they can be. Supporting, being there, not taking them for granted. It has been a real gift. 'Often when bad things happen to us, in the aftermath of that there can be good things to take from it and I really do feel that I am a better person because of what I have been through than what I was before. 'I can look back about what things are important, I'm much more relaxed about work and about life. 'When you tell your children you have cancer and what that might mean to then telling your children you don't have cancer and what that might me. 'And all of a sudden you see your future ahead of you and it's like that's pretty cool. When I got through it, all I did was plan ahead. Months, years ahead because I've got my future.' Elsewhere in the chat, Jamie revealed he initially kept his possible cancer diagnosis a secret from beloved wife Sophie Siegle for weeks as they enjoyed a family holiday to Japan. The Heart Breakfast host said he was so blindsided by the news he worked hard to 'suppress it' in order to enjoy the trip with their sons Sidney, 17, and Kit, 16. Jamie said that he had to undergo emergency scans just hours before boarding a plane for their long-awaited family trip. 'I didn't tell anyone. At that stage, I thought, well, it might not be cancer. So there's no point really in saying anything,' he said. 'I just tried to suppress it. All I could think was, it's probably not.' It wasn't until the biopsy results came back that the cancer diagnosis was confirmed. 'I then had to go home and tell my wife,' he said. 'She was distraught.' 'I went on holiday with this in the back of my mind, We had a fantastic time - but obviously, this was there in the background.' Breaking the news to his sons, he said, was the hardest part: 'I had to explain to them that I was going to be fine, but they were too young to understand. When you say you've got cancer to a 14-year-old, they think you're going to die'. 'My youngest son had been with me when I was told my mum had died of cancer, so he knew what it meant.' Jamie lost his mum in late 2022. 'I was so pleased that she had died before I got cancer,' he said. 'I would've hated for her to know. I'm not sure what that would've done to her. During the chat he recalled how listeners noticed his voice had changed: People mentioned my voice wasn't sounding right,' he said. 'And I knew it wasn't right myself, but you just think - sore throat, nothing serious.' But a visit to a throat specialist changed everything. 'He looked at my throat and said, 'Oh yeah, that's probably cancer' I said 'What do you mean?' And he said 'Nine times out of ten, it is cancer and we need to get you scanned now.'' After his initial surgery, doctors feared some cancerous cells may have been left behind, prompting a second, and eventually a third operation. 'We were getting dangerously close to removing so much of the vocal cord that I wouldn't be able to talk again,' he reflected. But the third surgery was successful, and in January this year, Jamie triumphantly returned to Heart Breakfast alongside co-host Amanda Holden - whom he credits with getting him through it. 'Amanda was incredible,' he said. 'She checked in on me nonstop. She kept the show going. She's a force of nature.' Jamie, who once shied away from talking about personal struggles publicly, says he now feels a responsibility to speak out - especially given how unusual his type of cancer is. 'The cancer I had, laryngeal cancer, is very rare. A lot of doctors I spoke to had never even seen a case of it. But because it presents itself through your voice, you can diagnose it early. And that's why I'm still here.' He's become evangelical about early diagnosis. 'Cancer outcomes at stage one are really good. But once it gets to stage three, it's not.' What is laryngeal cancer? According to the NHS website, Laryngeal cancer is a type of cancer that affects the larynx (voice box). The larynx is part of the throat found at the entrance of the windpipe (trachea). It plays an important role in helping you breathe and speak. In the UK, there are more than 2,000 new cases of laryngeal cancer each year. The condition is more common in people over the age of 60. It's more common in men than women.
Wales Online
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Jamie Theakston in tears as he talks of cancer struggle
Jamie Theakston in tears as he talks of cancer struggle Jamie Theakston has emotionally opened up about his battle with laryngeal cancer, as he told Davina McCall of the 'huge shock' he felt upon receiving the diagnosis Jamie Theakston (Image: Alan Chapman/) Jamie Theakston has candidly revealed his struggle with laryngeal cancer in a heartfelt conversation with Davina McCall. The broadcaster from Heart Radio, at 54, was diagnosed with an aggressive variety of the disease last September, having initially thought his persisting sore throat was nothing serious. Miraculously, Jamie has successfully beaten cancer, following multiple operations to extract a malignant growth from his vocal cords. Yet, during a recent episode of the Begin Again podcast, he reflected on how stark and unexpected the diagnosis was amidst plans for a family vacation. Searching for words, he described the moment: "So, when I got my cancer diagnosis, it came as such a huge shock to me because it was so surprising, like there was no... it just came as such a broadside because... so, I'd had this sore throat for a while, and we were about to go on holiday. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . "We're going to, we're off to Japan. In fact, I think we were meant to be flying to Japan that day and my wife said, 'You should go and see someone before we go, just to get some antibiotic to clear up your throat'." In a turn of events, Jamie sought advice from a specialist who, despite being 'lovely', possessed what Jamie felt was the 'worst bedside manner of any doctor' he had encountered. Upon examining Jamie's throat, the doctor instantly suggested cancer as the likely cause, propelling Jamie into a series of tests and scans. A few hours after the examinations, the radio DJ went ahead with his holiday plans while waiting for the results. Despite having a splendid time, he chose not to divulge his situation to his family, bearing the burden in silence for a fortnight. "I didn't tell anyone," he confided."...At that stage, I thought, well, it might not be cancer. So, there's no point really in saying." Article continues below The truth eventually came to light when Jamie received his biopsy results, confirming the presence of early-stage cancer. He returned home to share the grave news with his wife, Sophie Siegle, who was left in deep distress. With emotion clear in his voice, Jamie recounted: "My mum had died of cancer about a year before. And so my youngest son, he was with me when I was told my mum had died from cancer, knew that you could die. And so, I told him that it was going to be fine and that he had nothing to worry about, and that was the hardest part." Post-diagnosis, Jamie had surgery at the Princess Grace Hospital in Central London which was initially deemed successful, but doubts lingered over whether all the cancer had been excised. Now 54, the DJ faced further tribulations with a second operation complicated by scar tissue impacting his vocal cords. A third procedure was contemplated, though doctors warned they were verging on 'dangerously close' to a point where Jamie might lose his ability to speak permanently. He remarked: "And so, that had now gone from being, I've got cancer that I should be able to live with to a situation where they've gone, well, 'We're now dangerously close to you not being able to talk,' which is new. I was like, wow, I hadn't really factored that into the whole equation." Thankfully, Jamie's voice remains unharmed, and he celebrated his return to Heart Radio Breakfast, where he teams up with Amanda Holden, this January. Article continues below Upon his return, he informed his audience: "Today is the four-month anniversary of my cancer diagnosis. So it's been four months, and I'm fed up with hospitals and operations, and it's just wonderful to be back, and I've got some news for you. Because I can tell you that as of today, I'm cancer free."
Daily Mirror
24-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Davina McCall says ordeal felt like 'Alzheimer's' after surgery
The 57-year-old TV personality and Big Brother legend discussed the memory loss she experienced following brain surgery Davina McCall has shared a frightening experience she had following her brain surgery. The TV star discovered she had a rare 14-mm colloid cyst, which affects only three in every million people, during a chance health check in 2023. Thankfully, the tumour was benign, and in 2024, Davina had neurosurgeon Kevin O'Neill successfully remove it. But in a new episode of her podcast, Begin Again, she revealed just how much it affected her memory and perception of everything around her. In a conversation with Heart Radio DJ, Jamie Theakston, she said: "Can I tell you a weird thing? I understand a bit about [symptoms of dementia] because I woke up with no short-term memory, and it's come back very, very slowly over three months. And I struggled with all of those feelings when I was just out of hospital." Jamie said: "Like an Alzheimer's," to which Davina replied: "Yeah, it was. I got paranoid. I got like, insecure. I didn't trust people that I love and trust. It was horrible, but I could feel it coming back. Rather than losing it. "It gave me a new, well, obviously, you know, my dad died of Alzheimer's. It gave me a new appreciation for what he'd been through and for what your dad is going through now, and what it really feels like it, it's extraordinary." Alzheimer's disease is a neurological condition that progressively impairs memory, cognitive abilities, and ultimately, the capacity to perform basic tasks. It is the most common form of dementia, which currently impacts more than 944,000 people in the UK. Davina's father passed away from dementia in 2022, just six years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Davina, 57, previously said that he had consistently been her rock and she'd always slightly 'hero-worshipped' him. Speaking with the Alzheimer's Society in 2017 before he passed away, she said: "I've always slightly hero-worshipped him. So when he started saying funny things like, 'I took the overland train' and 'Call me when your work is less explosive', it didn't take us long to all come together and ask each other if we should be concerned. "The psychologist that first assessed him said that he could have been affected for a while – but he is so clever that he had come up with strategies. That's my dad – see a problem, come up with a strategy." She added: "I have grieved the loss of my old dad." Besides the temporary loss of her memory, Davina also lost a worrying four kilograms of muscle in the aftermath of her brain surgery. While it's been a long road to recovery, she now feels much stronger in her body and mind. "I felt like my memory was coming back and I was feeling stronger in myself, in my mind," she recently told Women's Health. "But working on my body was going to be the last bit of joy to come back to my life." Early red flags of dementia Dementia can come in different forms, and each type can impact people in varying ways. However, a few common red flags usually appear during its onset. According to the NHS, these are: Finding it hard to carry out familiar daily tasks, such as getting confused over the correct change when shopping Memory loss Difficulty concentrating Being confused about time and place Mood changes Struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word Anyone concerned about their symptoms should seek guidance from a medical professional.
