Journalist Victoria Derbyshire has spoken openly about having a mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer in August.
The presenter, 47, shared her experience to reassure women that having treatment for the condition is 'do-able'.
Victoria discovered she had cancer in July, announcing her diagnosis in August on Twitter.
Will be doing the programme as much as possible during treatment in the months ahead 2/2
— Victoria Derbyshire (@vicderbyshire) August 19, 2015
Victoria made a video diary during her treatment, which will be broadcast on her BBC show this morning.
An image from the film shows her in a hospital bed holding a sign saying: “Hi. This morning I had breast cancer.”
A second picture shows her smiling brightly with another board which reads: “This evening I don’t!”
I recorded a video diary in hospital after having a mastectomy. Watch it, if you like, tomorrow BBC 2/BBC News 0915 pic.twitter.com/oTUiihyAqW
— Victoria Derbyshire (@vicderbyshire) October 11, 2015
Victoria, a former presenter on Newsnight and BBC Radio 5 Live, underwent reconstructive surgery following her operation and on Friday praised her surgeon as “awesome, kind, clever, very very good at his job. And his whole team”.
In the video diary footage, Victoria says: “The reason I wanted to talk about what has happened to me is that I am a pretty open person. But also because more than one in three people will be diagnosed with cancer. And here’s the thing: having cancer is manageable.”
Victoria is set to return to work full-time later this month (Yui Mok/PA)
She added: “Having a mastectomy is totally do-able. I didn’t know that until I got cancer. And that’s what I want to tell people. I know everyone is different, and has different experiences. This is mine. And I hope you don’t mind me sharing that with you.”
Victoria will be back at work full-time from October 20, but will have time off for further treatment.
The diary will be shown during The Victoria Derbyshire Show from 9.15am on BBC2.
