Clare Balding found out she had horror disease after ‘watching herself on BBC’
The presenter has opened up about her health (Image: Max Mumby/Indigo, Getty Images)
Television presenter Clare Balding said she initially became aware of a serious illness after spotting herself on television and noticing an alteration to part of her body. Clare is set to appear on this evening’s episode (Friday, July 24) of Celebrity Gogglebox, alongside her wife, Alice Arnold.
The well-known broadcaster was viewing footage of herself presenting the Olympia International Horse Show on the BBC in December 2008 when she spotted a lump on her neck. Upon returning home that Christmas, a relative encouraged her to have the lump examined by a medical professional. Sadly, the news wasn’t great for the popular TV presenter.
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
The TV presenter is set to appear on Celebrity Gogglebox this evening (July 24) (Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images for RLWC)
Speaking to the Stick To Rugby podcast, Clare said: “It was an odd one because I hadn’t really noticed feeling any different and I was (presenting) show jumping at Christmas when it was at Olympia and I recorded an opening link. I was watching it back on the monitor as I was about to go live, and I’m looking at the monitor and you know that if you don’t really look at yourself in the mirror, you don’t really notice anything?”.
“I was looking at the monitor and I saw this big lump on my neck, like a big lump and I thought that’s really weird. And I felt it and I was like ‘where has that come from?'”
Clare noticied the lump in December 2008 (Image: Getty Images)
After undergoing a number of examinations and tests, it was found that the sports broadcaster had thyroid cancer.
True to form, Clare insisted that her surgery be scheduled around her demanding work commitments.
The year after, she underwent radioactive iodine therapy, which she subsequently confirmed proved effective, with no indication of the cancer having spread.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT
Over the years, Clare has established herself as a familiar face in British households following decades presenting some of the most prestigious events in the sporting world.
The TV presenter had thyroid cancer (Image: Simon Bruty/Anychance/Getty Images)
Thyroid cancer is an uncommon form of cancer that primarily affects women, with roughly 4,000 new cases of the disease diagnosed annually, according to Cancer Research UK.
According to the NHS, there are several symptoms that individuals with the condition may experience, including: “A lump in the front, lower part of your neck – the lump usually feels hard, slowly gets bigger and is not painful, a hoarse voice, a sore throat, difficulty swallowing or breathing and pain in the front of your neck, or a feeling like something is pressing against your neck.”
