Kate Garraway is best known for presenting Good Morning Britain on ITV breakfast and is the presenter of Mid Mornings with Kate Garraway on Smooth Radio. Outside of her professional career, the journalist has also shown viewers a playful side to her personality, appearing on the fifth series of Strictly Come Dancing and currently participating in I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!.

READ MORE

• Shirley Ballas health: Strictly judge on reveals why she underwent op

Kate recently revealed a more serious aspect of her life too, divulging to the Sun that she had an unsettling brush with breast cancer.

The star found a lump in her breast and endured a two day wait before finding out if the lump was cancerous.

She said: “You’re in the clinic, looking round at everyone thinking, ‘Why shouldn’t it be me any more than anyone else?’ It’s really scary.”

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK, and most women diagnosed with breast cancer are over the age of 50, but younger women can also get breast cancer.

Discovering a lump on your breast is usually the first noticeable warning sign, and, although most breast lumps are not cancerous, it’s always best to have them checked by a doctor, advises the NHS.

You should also see a GP if you notice any of these symptoms:

• A change in the size or shape of one or both breasts
• Discharge from either of your nipples, which may be streaked with blood
• A lump or swelling in either of your armpits
• Dimpling on the skin of your breasts
• A rash on or around your nipple
• A change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast
• The exact causes of breast cancer are not fully understood. However, there are certain factors known to increase the risk of breast cancer, including drinking alcohol.

The risk posed by alcohol consumption is something Kate became acutely aware of: “I was flabbergasted by the link. I don’t want to scare people but to have it in your mind is really important,” said the star, who has cut back on her own drinking.

DON’T MISS
Sally Dynevor: ‘I don’t stop thinking about it’ Coronation Street’s Sally on cancer fears [INSIGHT]
Samia Ghadie health: ‘I feel like I’m going to die’ Coronation Street star on condition [INSIGHT]
Mikey North health: Coronation Street star’s ‘horrendous’ sleep condition [INSIGHT]

Thankfully Kate’s growth turned out to be a benign cyst, which means the lump was not cancerous.

Nonetheless Kate is urging women to cut back on alcohol in a bid to reduce their risk of developing the deadly disease.

As the NHS explains, people who drink even small amounts of alcohol on a regular basis have a greater risk of getting breast cancer than people who do not drink alcohol at all.

The more alcohol you drink, the more your risk of getting breast cancer increases so it is important to drink in moderation.

READ MORE

• Debbie McGee health: Star on diagnosis of deadly condition

Other risk factors include:

• Age – the risk increases as you get older
• A family history of breast cancer
• A previous diagnosis of breast cancer
• A previous non-cancerous (benign) breast lump
• Being tall, overweight or obese
• Drinking alcohol

How is breast cancer diagnosed?

You may be diagnosed with breast cancer after routine breast screening, or, as in Kate’s case, you may have symptoms that you’ve seen your GP about, notes the NHS.

See a GP as soon as possible if you notice any symptoms of breast cancer, such as an unusual lump in your breast or any change in the appearance, feel or shape of your breasts, advises the health body.

The GP will examine you and if they think your symptoms need further assessment, they’ll refer you to a specialist breast cancer clinic.

Source: Read Full Article