Davina McCall was saved from a potentially devasting fate thanks to a poster warning of the signs of breast cancer.
The beloved presenter, 58, took to social media on Saturday to reveal she had been diagnosed with the disease after finding a lump.
In an emotional video, Davina said she had a biopsy and the cancer was removed in a lumpectomy just weeks ago.
She shared how she was ‘sitting on the loo’ when she found the lump whilst checking herself after being urged to by posters put up by Lorraine Kelly and her daytime show.
Davina had spotted the signs inside ITV headquarters that encouraged women to ‘check their boobs’.
The poster illustrates what women should be checking for and says: ‘If you notice anything unusual see your doctor or nurse as soon as possible.’
Davina McCall was saved from a potentially devasting fate thanks to a poster warning of the signs of cancer
The sign that Davina saw inside ITV headquarters toilets that encouraged women to ‘check their boobs’
It also carries an eye-grabbing large message at the top, reading: ‘SAVE YOUR LIFE in the time it takes to get changed.’
In her video message announcing the diagnosis, Davina stressed her cancer had been caught ‘very very early’ but would still require five days of radiotherapy in January as an ‘insurance policy’ to remain cancer free.
She said: ‘So I underwent a biopsy and it was indeed breast cancer and I had it taken out in a lumpectomy nearly three weeks ago.’
Davina went on to discuss the results of her surgery and how doctors had now given her the all clear.
The former Big Brother host went on: ‘It was very very small so I got it very very early, which is incredibly lucky, but I am so relieved that I have had it removed and that it hasn’t spread.’
She thanked the doctors and nurses as well as her family and fiancé Michael Douglas before admitting: ‘I was very angry when I found out, but I let go of that and I feel in a much more positive place now.’
Davina captioned the clip: ‘The message here, is know your boobs. Notice any changes. Don’t procrastinate. Get your free checkups. And never ignore a niggle. Sending out huge love.’
The star had first revealed her diagnosis during a charity her Dine With Davina charity event in Southampton on Friday evening.
In an emotional video, Davina said she had a biopsy and the cancer was removed in a lumpectomy just weeks ago
The news comes a year after Davina diagnosed with a colloid cyst, a rare type of benign brain tumour that she underwent major surgery to remove
It left the gathered crowd gasping before she said: ‘Lorraine Kelly had put signs on the backs of all the doors saying “check your breasts” and every time I went for a wee I did that.
‘It was still there, and then one morning I saw myself in the mirror and thought ‘I’m going to get that looked at’.’
Following the announcement fans and famous friends rushed to the comments to the star the star their best wishes.
Julia Bradbury, who has also suffered breast cancer, wrote: ‘Sending the biggest hugs’ and Amanda Holden said: ‘Sending you so much love’.
Penny Lancaster said: ‘You’re amazing xxxx’ and Gaby Logan added: ‘Sending you loads of love’.
Davina announced in November 2024 that she had been diagnosed with a colloid cyst, a rare type of benign brain tumour.
And, after a gruelling six-hour operation to remove the 14mm cyst from her brain, she revealed she was cancer-free.
In September it was revealed Davina was engaged to her partner Michael Douglas
During an appearance on Loose Women in September, Davina revealed how the experience left her unable to stop crying.
When asked if she fears for her health, Davina responded: ‘I don’t feel worried about that, but I do have this thing where I can’t stop crying.’
Visibly emotional, the mother-of-three fought back tears, and her voice became shaky as she continued: ‘So, I cry a lot when I talk about it.
‘I think it’s about trauma. It was traumatic – the experience – but I feel amazing now. I really do. I am so happy. I can’t believe I’m here with you.
‘Everything is a joy, getting up in the morning, having a coffee, I’m still in the joys of it. I want to put it behind me, I feel great. I want to stop crying.’
In September it was revealed Davina was engaged to her partner Michael Douglas.
She was friends for years with celebrity hairdresser Michael, 47, but they only began dating after she finalised her divorce with ex-husband Matthew Robertson in April 2018.
They went public with their relationship in 2018 and by January 2023, Michael had moved in with her – and now, the smitten couple are set to tie the knot.
To ensure her loved ones were the first to know, Davina managed to keep the engagement private and didn’t even tell ITV bosses.
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.
For more information visit breastcancernow.org or call its free helpline on 0808 800 6000
