Strictly Come Dancing star Shirley Ballas has revealed she has been tested for cancer - and lives in fear of dying from the disease.
The 63-year-old talent show judge has been for a biopsy and has urged other women to get tested and seek treatment in order to be diagnosed with the disease as early as possible to increase the chance of beating it. The TV star has previously explained that she made the decision to have her breast implants removed in order for doctors to spot any abnormalities more easily.
The TV star - who has been a judge on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing since 2017 - has had three biopsies and also says her biggest fear is that she will die before her 87-year-old mother, Audrey. There is also a history of cancer in the TV star's family as Audrey was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2018, but is now in remission, and Shirley’s grandmother, grandfather and aunt all had the disease.
Shirley, who has been dancing since the age of seven and has won a string of awards over the course of her career, says she would often check herself but was alarmed when doctors told her they had discovered something unusual - and needed to take a tissue sample after she underwent a 3D mammogram. She says she is determined to keep herself busy in order to avoid thinking about potential health issues.
Shirley has been a judge on Strictly Come Dancing since 2017 (BBC)Opening up about her health scare, Shirley admitted she found the process of having a tissue sample taken from her intimidating - and that waiting for the results has been agonising. She told The Sun on Sunday: “It’s been terrifying, to have the needle go in your body to numb it before the biopsy. Every time the phone rings, I think, ‘Oh, maybe they are my results’.”
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Shirley explained that fellow Strictly star Amy Dowden - who herself battled breast cancer over the past year - encouraged her to get herself checked. The 33-year-old urged the judge not to forget to get a mammogram.
Shirley explained: "My dear student and friend Amy said to me, ‘You must never miss a mammogram’. So when this particular invite came in I could have put it off until the summer when it is a bit quieter. But I’m glad I didn’t.
At the end of the week, Shirley shared a post biopsy selfie alongside a health call to action (Instagram/shirleyballas)
Amy Dowden, who recently battled cancer, has been supporting Shirley (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)“I did it at a mobile NHS unit in a Sainsbury’s car park, and three days later they called me back to go into King’s College Hospital in Camberwell. I was shocked as I do self checks, and I’d had a self check with another nurse a few weeks before for something else and she didn’t feel anything. But the mammogram scanners can pick up small abnormalities.
“So I went to the hospital and the doctor said, ‘I don’t want to alarm you but we found something and we’re not sure what it is." She went on to urge other women not to miss out on getting mammograms or smear tests. While she acknowledges that some women might feel embarrassed about visiting a doctor for such tests, she declared: "We’re our own beautiful machine, and we need our MoT. Check your body, check your breasts. It might save your life.”
On Friday, Shirley shared a photograph of herself in bandages via Instagram Stories alongside a message warning others not to miss out on tests. She wrote at the time: "Urging all women do not miss your mammogram. I went for mine, ended up going for a second one and a biopsy. Local anesthetic biopsy done. Now waiting for results."
She added: "Amy Dowden you ran through my mind. The importance of not putting it off. Go and get tested. Plus self breast check regularly." This prompted a response from Amy herself, who wrote: "Always here for you! Important message here all from @shirleyballas."
Strictly fans were shocked last year when Welsh dancer Amy revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer. She was forced to pull out of dancing on the show for the 2023 season as she focused on herself and battled the disease. And earlier this year she delighted fans when she revealed that doctors had told her that her treatments had been successful.
She announced in a social media post in February: "NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE! Words I dreamed of! My biggest accomplishment yet! I won’t be getting the all clear for 5 years especially with a hormone fed cancer. But it was all worth it. Words I never thought I’d hear at one point. So grateful for all the care I received and continue to have. To my husband, family and friends who supported me unconditionally and to you guys! Thank you!"
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