DAVINA McCall fought back tears in her first video since brain surgery for a “very rare” tumor – revealing her “slow recovery”.
The presenter was diagnosed with a benign but very rare tumor quite by accident after being offered a photoshoot a few months ago.
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Davina McCall has spoken openly about her ‘slow’ recoveryCredit: Unknown, clear with picture desk
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Brave Davina fought back tears in a video message Credit: Instagram
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The presenter was diagnosed with a benign but very rare tumor by pure chance Credit: Getty
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The star thanked her boyfriend Michael DouglasCredit: Eroteme
He is now recovering after a six-hour operation to remove the tumor.
Posting on Instagram, Davina said: “Hi, just wanted to check in and say a big and sincere thank you to everyone who messaged me or got in touch.
“It was meant for the whole world. It was angry. And it’s very nice to come home, I’m on the other side.
“My short-term memory is a little sketchy. But that’s something I can work on.
“I write down everything I do to make sure I feel safe and that Michael and my mum are looking after me brilliantly.
“I’m recovering, I’m resting, I’m sleeping a lot, I’m feeling very good – and I’m very happy.
“When something like this happens, I feel so grateful. I was always grateful.
“I’ve been really lucky in my life, but right now I feel incredibly grateful.”
In a written post, she added: “Hey! Thank you for the messages. It’s for the whole world.
“I just want to thank Michael who won the award for best boyfriend ever.
“Voted by me and everyone who knows us. Also, Best Mom Ever award to Gaby McCall.
“Thank you mom. You are the best grandma and mom ever. I feel so much better.
“I slept great in my own bed. I took several naps during the day which keeps my brain clear. Slowly, slowly…
“Great gratitude and love for the world and my life and the wonderful people in it.
“Thank you to all my friends. You are the best. Thank you to the Cleveland Clinic and my amazing neurosurgeon. Kevin. I love you.
“Thank you Sydney, Sarah and all the amazing beautiful souls who took care of me. Get used to this. It will pour out of me.”
Davina McCall makes a surprise appearance on I’m A Celebrity after undergoing brain surgery for a ‘very rare’ tumour
Davina said the 14mm growth was a rare colloid cyst, with a “three in a million” chance of having one.
NHS guidelines suggest it can take six weeks for full recovery.
Experts say more people are being diagnosed with Davina’s extremely rare type of brain tumor because of advances in testing.
Brain tumor research says three out of a million people diagnosed with a colloid cyst each year are growing thanks to MRI and CT scans.
Colloid cysts form in the embryo and go unnoticed until symptoms such as memory loss or headaches begin to appear.
Continued growth can cause fluid to build up in the brain, which can be life-threatening and require emergency surgery.
Head of brain tumor research dr. Karen Noble said: “Colloid cysts are thought to be rare, with around 255 people diagnosed each year in the UK.
“Diagnosis is increasing due to the widespread use of MRI and CT scans, as in Davina’s case.”
She added, “Early diagnosis is key to a positive long-term prognosis.”
‘EMBRACING THE MIDDLE AGES’
Brave Davina will continue with her weekly podcast despite recovering from brain surgery.
The TV presenter, 57, launched new show Begin Again last month and was “adamant” that the tumor would not halt its progress.
Before undergoing the six-hour procedure to remove the tumor, Davina pre-recorded a series of hour-long interviews.
Since it launched on October 9, celebrities including Ferne Cotton, Paloma Faith and Paul C. Brunson have appeared on Begin Again.
Davina says the podcast aims to “empower people to embrace midlife as their most transformative era yet.”
The former Big Brother host is next on TV with The Masked Singer, which will air a Christmas special and then the whole series – but is also pre-recorded in September.
Symptoms of a benign brain tumor
A benign brain tumor is a mass of cells that grow relatively slowly in the brain.
Benign means that it is not cancerous.
Non-cancerous brain tumors tend to stay in one place and do not spread.
Some slow-growing tumors may not cause any symptoms at first.
When symptoms occur, it is because the tumor is putting pressure on the brain and preventing a certain part of the brain from working properly.
As the tumor grows and increases pressure in the skull, you may experience:
- New, persistent headaches that are sometimes worse in the morning or when bending or coughing
- I feel sick all the time
- Sleepiness
- Vision problems, such as blurred or double vision, loss of part of the field of vision, and temporary vision loss
- Epileptic seizures that can affect the whole body or you can only have a twitch in one area
See your GP if you develop any of these symptoms.
They will examine you and ask about your symptoms.
If they suspect you may have a tumor or are unsure what is causing your symptoms, they may refer you to a brain and nerve specialist for further testing.
Source: NHS
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