Good Morning Britain viewers flooded with support for Trisha Goddard as she bravely spoke out about her terminal cancer diagnosis on Thursday’s show.
Joined by presenters Kate Garraway and Ed Balls, the 66-year-old explained why she initially kept her illness a secret, before insisting she did not want to be a “poster girl” for cancer.
The former talk show host revealed in February that her incurable cancer had returned after cells were found in her hip following a fall, and that she was undergoing treatment to prolong her life.
And explaining why she kept her cancer a secret, Trisha, who will present Good Morning Britain next week, said: “I was struggling with how to deal with it myself, plus I just wanted to work and be me.
“CNN and my colleagues didn’t know I had no hair or feeling in my legs because of the treatment. I had chemotherapy every week for four and a half months.”
Good Morning Britain viewers have flooded their support for Trisha Goddard as she bravely opened up about her terminal cancer diagnosis on Thursday’s show.
The former talk show host revealed in February that her incurable cancer had returned after cells were found in her hip following a fall, and that she is undergoing treatment to prolong her life.
The star then recalled a moment when she was “mortified” when one of her colleagues discreetly informed her she had a nosebleed (a side effect of her treatment) while on air.
On why she didn’t want to be the “poster child” of the disease, she shared: “It’s not who I am, it’s what I’m living with.
‘Going back to people with chronic illnesses, I think we do them a disservice by using words like brave, champion, hero, survivor, because all they want is to take advantage of the life they have and drink it to the last sip.
“I don’t want people to say, ‘Oh, you look great,’ and then say, ‘considering you have cancer.’ I just don’t want that, it’s not who I am.”
Meanwhile, Trisha revealed she had started her cancer treatment the morning after her wedding to husband Allen, whose identity was revealed earlier this year.
She said: ‘My treatment started the morning after my wedding. At eight in the morning and in the oncology department!’
The star added that she was forced to delay her honeymoon by two years due to her cancer treatment.
On how she is doing now, she noted: ‘I’m fine, I’m doing well, I’m getting used to my new normal,’ before sharing that she is receiving treatment every three weeks.
Joined by presenters Kate Garraway and Ed Balls, the 66-year-old explained why she initially kept her illness a secret, before insisting she did not want to be a “poster girl” for cancer.
Explaining why she kept her cancer a secret, she said: ‘I was struggling with how to deal with it myself, plus I just wanted to work and be myself.
On why she didn’t want to be a “poster child” for the disease, she shared: “It’s not who I am, it’s what I’m living with.”
Meanwhile, Trisha revealed she had started her cancer treatment the morning after her wedding to husband Allen, whose identity was revealed earlier this year.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, viewers shared: “I know other people are going through the same thing. God bless you Trisha Goddard. Your indomitable spirit is inspiring.”
She added that the cancer unit is her “second family” because of the amount of time she spends there.
After bravely speaking out about her treatment, fans were quick to share their support for the presenter.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, viewers shared: “I know other people are going through the same thing. God bless you Trisha Goddard. Your indomitable spirit is inspiring.”
“An incredibly strong lady, Trish Goddard hasn’t changed her way of loving her show in the past, I adore Trish and this is truly wonderful news.”
This comes after Trisha admitted she feared she would have to marry husband Allen “in a walker” after setting the wedding date just a month after undergoing vital hip surgery.
Speaking to Hello! On her diagnosis, Trisha also shared her husband’s identity for the first time, having previously kept his name and face secret on social media.
She also revealed intimate details about her wedding with Allen, after they tied the knot in August 2022.
The Dancing On Ice star admitted that after getting engaged in January that year, she was horrified by the prospect of getting married in a walker.
The couple set a date for their big day just a month after her hip surgery, and were married before a rabbi in front of 70 guests at their local restaurant in Connecticut.
This comes after Trisha admitted she feared she would have to marry husband Allen “in a walker” after setting a wedding date just a month after undergoing vital hip surgery.
Trisha wore a Victoria Beckham dress and used an ornate cane to walk down the aisle, but kept her cancer a secret from most of the attendees.
She said, “We said some things to some people and then we were like, ‘We’re not going to do that again.'” Not because people are horrible, but because everyone brings their own shit to the rodeo.
“They’ll cry or say ‘is there anything I can do?’ and then you’ll never hear from them again.”
The day after she and Allen were married, Trisha began radiation therapy for her cancer, instead of going on their honeymoon.
After undergoing hip surgery, Trisha underwent daily radiation for three weeks and weekly chemotherapy for four and a half months, in addition to intense physical therapy.
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, affecting more than two MILLION women each year.
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. In the UK, there are more than 55,000 new cases each year and the disease claims the lives of 11,500 women. In the US, it affects 266,000 women each year and kills 40,000. But what causes it and how can it be treated?
What is breast cancer?
It comes from a cancer cell that develops in the lining of a duct or lobule of one of the breasts.
When breast cancer has spread to surrounding tissue, it is called “invasive.” Some people are diagnosed with “carcinoma in situ,” in which no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobule.
Most cases develop in people over 50, but sometimes younger women are also affected. Breast cancer can develop in men, although this is rare.
Staging tells you 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.
Cancer cells are classified from low grade, meaning slow growth, to high grade, meaning fast growth. High grade cancers are more likely to come back after they have been treated for the first time.
What causes breast cancer?
A cancerous tumor originates from an abnormal cell. It is not known for certain why a cell becomes cancerous. It is thought that something damages or alters certain genes in the cell. This causes the cell to become abnormal and multiply “out of control.”
Although breast cancer can develop for no apparent reason, there are some risk factors that can increase the likelihood, such as genetics.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
The first common 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 is to the lymph nodes in the armpit. If this happens, a swelling or lump will form in the armpit.
How is breast cancer diagnosed?
- Initial evaluation: Your doctor examines your breasts and armpits. You may have tests such as a mammogram, a special X-ray of breast tissue that can indicate the possibility of tumors.
- 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 whether it has spread. These may include blood tests, an ultrasound of your liver or a chest X-ray.
How is breast cancer treated?
Treatment options that may be considered include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormonal treatment. Often a combination of two or more of these treatments is used.
- Surgery: Breast-conserving surgery or removal of the affected breast depending on the size of the tumor.
- Radiation therapy: Treatment that uses high-energy rays aimed at cancer tissue. This kills cancer cells or stops them from dividing. It is mainly used together with surgery.
- Chemotherapy: Treatment of cancer using anticancer drugs that kill cancer cells or stop them from dividing.
- Hormonal treatments: Some types of breast cancer are affected by the “female” hormone called estrogen, which can stimulate cancer cells to divide and multiply. Treatments that reduce the level of these hormones or prevent their action are commonly used in patients with breast cancer.
How successful is the treatment?
The prognosis is better for patients who are diagnosed when the cancer is still small and has not spread. Surgical removal of a tumor at an early stage may offer a good chance of cure.
Routine mammography offered to women aged 50 to 70 means more breast cancers are diagnosed and treated at an early stage.
For more information, visit breastcancernow.org or call their toll-free helpline at 0808 800 6000
