Former Strictly star Debbie McGee reveals she has undergone surgery to treat breast cancer

Debbie McGee

Former Strictly star Debbie McGee recently revealed that she has been battling breast cancer.

The 60-year-old, speaking to The Sun, shared that she was diagnosed with the early stages of the disease in October last year, after a routine screening found cancerous tumours in her left breast.

Debbie also revealed that just last week she had surgery to remove the tumours - and has thankfully now been given the all-clear.

However, she confessed that the entire thing, "[It] scared me to death."

The former Strictly contestant also told the publication that she believes the stress of her late husband Paul Daniels' death caused the disease to form. Paul passed away in 2016 at the age of 77, with doctors later discovering he had an incurable brain tumour.

She confessed, "Stress, I think caused mine. I've never been through the stress I've been through since I lost Paul. Grief hits you in so many ways you're not expecting. It's not all about sadness."

Debbie also revealed that a friend of hers experienced a similar thing, saying, “I’ve got a friend who lost her husband four years ago.

“She’s younger than me but she got it [cancer] as well."

Former magician's assistant Debbie admitted that she will now have regular screening to ensure the cancer doesn't return, but that she feels like the "luckiest person in the world" to have been given the all-clear.

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She is now urging women to go for their own mammograms, to spot any potential signs of the disease.

Debbie also confessed that after a stressful two years since losing her beloved husband, she is beginning to come round to the idea of finding love again.

In light of her cancer diagnosis, she said, "It's made me think even more to make the most of today and I would say I'm open to finding love again."

She even revealed that magician Paul would have wanted her to find someone special again. Debbie said, "And he said, 'I hope you do meet somebody else. I don't want you to be on your own for the rest of your life'."

Amy Hunt

Amy Hunt is an experienced digital journalist specialising in homes, interiors and hobbies. She began her career working as the features assistant at woman&home magazine, before moving over to the digital side of the brand where she eventually became the Lifestyle Editor up until January 2022. Amy won the Digital Journalist of the Year award at the AOP Awards in 2019 for her work on womanandhome.com.