Davina McCall Urges Women to Know Their Bodies After Spotting Breast Cancer from ITV Poster

Friends of TV presenter Davina McCall rallied round her last night after she revealed that she has had breast cancer surgery to remove a lump.

Ms McCall, who hosts ITV’s Long Lost Family and is a panellist on The Masked Singer, told how the lump ‘came and went’ before she finally got it checked.

She was diagnosed three weeks ago after she was prompted to go to the doctor by posters in the women’s toilets at ITV studios, part of Lorraine Kelly’s Change and Check campaign. 

Ms McCall, 58, a prominent campaigner for Hormone Replacement Therapy, said the cancer had not spread. 

It comes a year after the star, who used to present Big Brother, had an operation to remove a rare benign brain tumour. 

Friends told The Mail on Sunday last night that she was ‘OK and through the other end’ following what they describe as a ‘terrifying time’. 

They added: ‘The last year or so has been horrific for Davina.’ 

In a candid video which she posted on Instagram yesterday, Ms McCall said she found the lump in its ‘very, very early stages’. A biopsy confirmed it was cancer, and she had a lumpectomy last month. 

Ms McCall said she will need five days of radiotherapy in January in what she describes as ‘an insurance policy’ – though she confirmed the cancer hasn’t spread. 

Sharing her story, she said: ‘I just wanted to tell you I had breast cancer, I found a lump a few weeks ago and it came and went. 

‘But then when I was filming the Masked Singer, the show Lorraine put signs on the back of their toilet doors saying ‘check your breasts’ and every time I went for a wee I did that, and it was still there. 

‘And then one morning, I saw it in the mirror, and I thought, I’m going to get that looked at. 

‘So I had a biopsy and it was indeed breast cancer and I had it taken out in a lumpectomy nearly three weeks ago.’ 

The poster, inside ITV’s headquarters, show that women should be checking for and says: ‘If you notice anything unusual see your doctor or nurse as soon as possible.’

It also carries an eye-grabbing large message at the top, reading: ‘SAVE YOUR LIFE in the time it takes to get changed.’

The mother-of-three, who got engaged to hairdresser Michael Douglas after recovering from her brain operation, went on to discuss the results of her latest surgery and how doctors had now given her the all clear. 

She said: ‘It was very, very small so I got it very early, which is incredibly lucky, but I am so relieved that I have had it removed and that it hasn’t spread.’ 

Ms McCall, who decided to be open about her illness to raise awareness, thanked the doctors and nurses at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, as well as her ‘brilliant kids’ – Holly, 24, Tilly, 22, and Chester, 19 – and fiance Mr Douglas. 

She added: ‘I was very angry when I found out [about the lump], but I let go of that and I feel in a much more positive place now. 

‘I think my message is, get checked if you’re worried, check yourself regularly. If you are due a mammogram, then get it done. Get the ultrasound.’ 

Underneath the video, Ms McCall wrote in the caption: ‘The message here is know your boobs. Notice any changes. Don’t procrastinate. Get your free check-ups. And never ignore a niggle. Sending out huge love.’ 

Ms McCall was inundated with messages of support from celebrity friends. 

TV presenters Amanda Holden and Claudia Winkleman sent their best wishes, while Julia Bradbury, who also suffered from breast cancer, wrote: ‘Sending the biggest hugs’. 

Ms Kelly said: ‘I’m so glad Davina saw our Change and Check sticker and the cancer was caught early. The whole point is to raise awareness and save lives. I’m sending Davina all my love.’ 

Last November, Ms McCall had a huge colloid cyst removed from her brain which would have killed her if it hadn’t been found. 

She had a gruelling six-hour operation involving removing a portion of her skull to extract the tumour, and called it ‘the hardest thing’ she had endured.