Debbie McGee has been through an awful lot in recent years, having tragically lost her husband Paul Daniels in 2016.
And now she’s revealed a terrifying health scare, admitting she recently needed surgery to remove two cancerous tumours in her breast.
Speaking in an interview with The Sun, Debbie, 60, said: “Although I’ve had mammograms every two years I never thought for a minute I’d ever have it myself. It scared me to death.”
Doctors discovered the cancerous tissue in Debbie’s left breast during a routine screening and she had her operation on 17 January.
She says: “They were talking about full mastectomy, taking flesh from my thighs. That was really scary given my dancing – and I was all on my own. I thought, ‘This is a moment when Paul isn’t here with me.’ It was much tougher to take.”
The TV star – who came second in the 15th series of Strictly Come Dancing – blames the stress of losing Paul nearly three years ago, saying: “Stress, I think caused mine. I’ve never been through the stress I’ve been through since I lost Paul. Grief hits you in so many ways you’re not expecting. It’s not all about sadness.”
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Debbie and Paul were together from 1979, married in 1988, and remained madly in love until the TV magician died from a brain tumour aged 77.
Last year, she paid tribute to her late husband, on what would’ve been their 30th wedding anniversary.
She wrote: “30 years ago today I married this amazing man. Still miss him every day ❤.”
Debbie also credited Paul with helping her through the BBC dance competition, where she was runner-up alongside dance partner, Giovanni Pernice.
The former magician’s assistant told The Mirror at the time: “I feel he is with me. When I walk down that studio floor, there is always a moment I think of him.
“He had so much confidence. I kind of say, ‘Come on darling, give me some of your confidence.’ And it takes away my nerves.”
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