Julia Bradbury revealed what her breast implants look like in a new video after having a mastectomy when she was diagnosed with cancer.
The TV presenter, 55, admitted she was devastated to undergo the procedure at the time during a documentary about her breast cancer journey, Julia Bradbury: Breast Cancer and Me, but knew it would be the best option to save her life.
In the clip which was shared to her Instagram page on Thursday, Julia advocated for ‘preventive care’ and early screenings for women in a bid to help ‘save lives’.
The Countryfile host was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2021 and underwent a mastectomy to have her 6 cm tumour removed.
She went braless as she recorded herself while covering her chest, sharing a lengthy and touching message about her experience.
Julia – who is now also an advocate for making PRS and SNP testing available on the NHS – revealed she took a polygenic risk score (PRS) test, which she branded a life-saver to empower women and help them predict breast cancer risks.
She said: ‘When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, it changed my life. But it also made me ask more questions about why it happened—and what I could do to reduce the risk of it coming back.’
Julia Bradbury revealed what her breast implants look like in a new video after having a mastectomy when she was diagnosed with cancer
The TV presenter, 55, admitted she was devastated to undergo the procedure at the time during a documentary about her breast cancer journey, Julia Bradbury: Breast Cancer and Me, but knew it would be the best option to save her life
‘That’s why I took a polygenic risk score (PRS) test under the guidance of Professor Gareth Evans at the Manchester Biomedical Research Centre. He has since retired.
‘It’s a genetic test that looks at small variations (called SNPs) across your DNA to help assess your personal risk of developing breast cancer—or, in my case, a recurrence
Julia continued: ‘My PRS results showed a slightly higher genetic risk for recurrence.
‘Knowing that helped me and my medical team make more informed decisions about treatment, ongoing monitoring, and lifestyle changes. It’s given me peace of mind, and a plan.
The English TV legend went on claiming: ‘I truly believe this kind of testing could save lives. It’s not just about diagnosing disease—it’s about predicting risk, preventing cancer, and empowering women (and men!) with personalised information about their own bodies.
‘If I had known I was at a higher risk of breast cancer, perhaps I would have proceeded differently when I first discovered my lump, in my 50’s.
‘I’m an advocate for making PRS and SNP testing more widely available on the NHS.
‘We need to move towards preventative care, not just reactive care. Because the earlier we understand our risk, the earlier we can take action.
Julia – who is now also an advocate for making PRS and SNP testing at NHS – revealed she took a polygenic risk score (PRS) test, which she branded a life-saver to empower women and help them predict breast cancer risks
The author was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2021 and underwent a mastectomy to have her 6cm tumour removed
‘Let’s give more people the tools to make informed decisions about their health.’
Earlier in May, the presenter proudly showed her surgery scars after undergoing her mastectomy.
The TV host took to Instagram 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?
‘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?’
Earlier in May, the presenter proudly showed her surgery scars after undergoing her mastectomy
Julia shared a close-up shot of her breast along with a message that scars are a sign of ‘resilience’
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.’
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
