Newsreader Jane Hill confirms she's had a mastectomy following secret breast cancer battle

BBC newsreader Jane Hill has confirmed she's undergone a mastectomy after secretly battling breast cancer.

The broadcaster, 50, appeared on ITV's Lorraine on Wednesday to discuss her condition, revealing she had her breast removed in November 2018 when she was first diagnosed and has decided against reconstruction surgery. 

The journalist said she was dealt a double blow when her long-term partner Sarah Shepherd's mother was also diagnosed with cancer in the same month.

Opening up: BBC Newsreader Jane Hill revealed on Twitter in May that she had secretly been battling breast cancer - explaining her absence from TV screens over the six months prior

Jane revealed on Twitter in May that she had secretly been battling breast cancer, explaining her absence from TV screens over the six months prior. 

'I left work at the end of November. You just don’t know how it’s going to go. You hope the operation is going to go well,' she told stand-in host Christine Lampard. 

'My surgeon was amazing. On the day of my diagnosis what she made me do was walk away thinking about all the positives in my case.

'I was super lucky, Christine. I didn’t want to start talking about it on social media in case there was hiccup. It wasn’t right for me for me to do updates.'

The newscaster - who didn't have a history of breast cancer in her family - also confirmed that she has undergone a mastectomy. 

Close: 'I have the support of my partner Sarah [Shepherd]. Her mum was also diagnosed with cancer in the same month I was so there was a lot of dark humour in our house. Her mum , touch wood, is doing well,' she said [pictured together in 2013]

Honest: The brave newscaster - who didn't have a history of breast cancer in her family - also confirmed that she has undergone a mastectomy

She said: 'I had a mastectomy in November. I decided against reconstruction surgery. It wasn’t right for me, a reconstruction requires multiple surgeries. 

'I didn’t want to put myself through anymore anesthetic,' she explained, adding: 'I do have a massive great scar across my chest.'

She also credited her healthy lifestyle - and love for broccoli - for saving her life.  

'Having lived a healthy lifestyle helped with my recovery,' she said. 'I’m a regular gym-goer and I definitely realised with hindsight it has helped my recovery. Eating broccoli for 25 years has helped.'

Jane also revealed the unfortunate timing of the diagnosis.

She said 'I have the support of my partner Sarah [Shepherd]. Her mum was also diagnosed with cancer in the same month I was so there was a lot of dark humour in our house. Her mum, touch wood, is doing well.' 

Recovery: She also credited her healthy lifestyle - and love for broccoli - for saving her life

Brave: Jane revealed that the reason she had not been on air for six months was because she has been treated for breast cancer

Breaking her silence: Jane revealed that she had been treated for breast cancer on Twitter after presenting the news for the first time in six months

Taking to Twitter in May, after going on air for the first time in months, Jane thanked the NHS for treating her and made a joke about her pass not working when she tried to get into the BBC building.

The reason for Jane's absence from the screen had not previously been known. 

Just before she went live, she tweeted: 'Big day today. On air for the first time since November. 

'Still... 6 months out of the newsroom... that's been plenty of time to sort #Brexit, right...? See you for @bbcnews at One.' 

Back to work: The newsreader tweeted to reveal that she was coming back to our screens in May

Seeing the funny side: Jane joked that her pass wouldn't work when she got to the building after six months away

The newsreader then quickly followed up with another tweet, and joked: 'Oh, and in true #W1A style, my pass had been cancelled and I couldn't get into the building. #welcomeback' 

After reading the news for the first time in months, Jane said she was 'overwhelmed' by the support and 'lovely' messages she had received. 

She tweeted: 'Overwhelmed by so many lovely back-to-work messages. I just want to say that my return wouldn't have been possible without our NHS. 

'Sending love & thanks to the numerous #NHSuk staff who spotted my breast cancer, treated it, and continue to look after me. Thank you all.' 

Chat: 'I left work at the end of November. You just don’t know how it’s going to go. You hope the operation is going to go well,' she told stand-in host Christine Lampard

Daily Mail UK