Tunbridge Wells TV presenter Davina McCall updates fans on rare brain tumour surgery
Published: 11:50, 25 November 2024
Updated: 14:45, 25 November 2024
TV presenter Davina McCall has issued a tearful update after undergoing a six-hour surgery to remove a rare brain tumour.
The 57-year-old, who lives in Tunbridge Wells, went under the knife 10 days ago after being diagnosed with a colloid cyst which affects only three in every one million people.
Posting on Instagram to her 1.8 million followers, the former Big Brother host said: "Hey! Thank you for the messages. It’s meant the world.
“Just want to thank Michael, who gets best boyfriend ever award. Voted for by me and everyone that knows us.
“Also, best mum ever award to Gaby McCall. Thank you mumma. For being best grandma and mumma ever. I am feeling much better.
"Had a great night's sleep in my own bed. Have a couple of sleeps during the day which keeps my brain clear. Slowly, slowly...
"Huge gratitude, and love for the world and my life and the beautiful people in it.
“Thank you… all the amazing beautiful souls that cared for me…”
"Thank you to all my friends. You are the best. Thank you to Cleveland Clinic and my amazing neurosurgeon. Kevin. I love you. Thank you Sydney, Sarah, and all the amazing beautiful souls that cared for me. Get used to this. It’s going to be pouring out of me."
Davina received her diagnosis by chance after booking a health scan.
Speaking before the operation, the mum-of-three said: “I was offered a health scan which I thought I was going to ace but it turned out I had benign brain tumour which is very rare, three in a million.
“I slightly put my head in the sand for a while, I saw a few neurosurgeons, had quite a lot of opinions and realised I needed to take it out.
“It's quite big, it's 14mm wide and it needs to come out because if it grows it would be bad. I'm having it removed. Say a prayer for me. I'm in good spirits.”
A colloid cyst is a slow-growing tumour typically found near the centre of the brain. The benign growth contains gelatinous material.
Most patients present with headaches, although other symptoms including vertigo, memory problems and double vision can occur.
The mum-of-three told how she wasn’t facing any immediate risk but doctors had raised concerns about if the tumour began to grow.
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Sean McPolin