Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas has praised the royals for publicly speaking about their cancer diagnosis.
The TV star, 63, branded King Charles and Princess Kate "inspiring" after she revealed her own scare with the disease. She revealed she's been for three biopsies taken from her left breast and is awaiting the results. Shirley admitted her biggest fear is that she will die before her 87-year-old mother, Audrey and previously shared how she removed her breast implants so doctors can spot any abnormalities more easily.
The dancer - who has been a judge on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing since 2017 - has shared her own cancer scare following King Charles and the Princess of Wales ' publicly sharing theirs earlier this year. King Charles is undergoing cancer treatment after it was discovered during a prostate operation while Kate is having chemotherapy for a cancer that was found after abdominal surgery.
Shirley has said it was "very brave" of the two royals to "share their stories" with the disease. Speaking of Kate's emotional video in which she revealed she has cancer, the TV star said: "It’s a memory I will have for a long time, and I think it’s great for women. And King Charles, when he came out and shared his diagnosis."
"They are inspiring and will encourage others to get their health checked," Shirley told The Sun. The talent show judge recalled how Princess Kate visiting the Strictly Come Dancing film studios last December with her children Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Shirley revealed they had "an absolute ball" and despite taking photos, she kept didn't want to post them as she thought it was more of a "private" visit for Kate as "they all watch Strictly".
"I was just glad she was able to come in and have a great day," she added. Shirley has a history of cancer in her family as her mum Audrey was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2018, but is now in remission, and Shirley’s grandmother, grandfather and aunt all had the disease. She became alarmed when doctors told her they had discovered something unusual - and needed to take a tissue sample after she underwent a 3D mammogram.
Shirley confessed is determined to keep herself busy in order to avoid thinking about potential health issues. 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’.”
The judge was inspired by fellow Strictly star Amy Dowden to get checked by doctors following her own breast cancer diagnosis. Shirley shared a photograph of herself in bandages 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." Amy responded: "Always here for you! Important message here all from @shirleyballas."
If you have been affected by this story, advice and support can be found at Breast Cancer Support.
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