Julia Bradbury, 53, bursts into tears as she recalls the heartbreaking moment she told her husband about her breast cancer diagnosis

Julia Bradbury, 53, bursts into tears as she recalls the heartbreaking moment she told her husband about her breast cancer diagnosis

Julia Bradbury choked up while remembering the painful incident when she told her husband, Gerard Cunningham, about her cancer diagnosis.

53-year-old host of Countryfile received a breast cancer diagnosis in September 2021 and subsequently had a mastectomy to remove a 6cm tumor.

On Davina McCall’s podcast “Begin Again”, Julia shared her experience of calling her spouse, whom she has been with since 2000, to disclose the heart-wrenching news they both received.

Julia shared with him that she had told him something, which caused both of them to shed tears. She then declared, “Whatever I need to do to navigate through this, I’m prepared to do it. I am willing to take any necessary steps.

Determined to fight, she expressed her readiness to face any challenge that may pop up ahead.

She expressed that if she must undergo a procedure resulting in losing a breast, she may also have to face the consequence of losing her hair. In simpler terms, she indicated that whatever challenges or hardships this situation presents, she is determined to confront them and find a way to cope.

Julia Bradbury, 53, bursts into tears as she recalls the heartbreaking moment she told her husband about her breast cancer diagnosis

Julia Bradbury, 53, bursts into tears as she recalls the heartbreaking moment she told her husband about her breast cancer diagnosis
Julia Bradbury, 53, bursts into tears as she recalls the heartbreaking moment she told her husband about her breast cancer diagnosis

Julia noted that every person’s experience with cancer can differ significantly, as each type of cancer, including breast cancer, has its unique characteristics.

As a lifestyle expert, I can share a personal anecdote about a close friend who bravely faced and conquered breast cancer. Despite having tumors in distinct locations, our experiences were unique due to the varying behaviors of these growths.

‘It’s very complicated. And that’s the reason why the war on cancer hasn’t been won yet.’

Julia resides with her 13-year-old son Zephyr, along with her identical eight-year-old twins Xanthe and Zena, in the household of her real estate entrepreneur spouse, Gerard.

In 2023, she shared her resolve to keep living, having survived two years after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis.

Prior to undergoing reconstructive surgery, the news reporter and television host had a tumor along with two lymph nodes and her left breast surgically taken out.

Since then, Julia has disclosed that her diagnosis significantly altered the course of her life. As a result, she decided to embrace a more nutritious diet and abstain from alcohol, expressing her determination to take every necessary step to ensure her children reach maturity.

In a conversation with The Times, Julia openly shared that navigating her children through her diagnosis and surgery over the past two years has been one of the most challenging experiences she’s encountered.

Julia Bradbury, 53, bursts into tears as she recalls the heartbreaking moment she told her husband about her breast cancer diagnosis
Julia Bradbury, 53, bursts into tears as she recalls the heartbreaking moment she told her husband about her breast cancer diagnosis

She shared, “During my initial biopsy, I found myself thinking, ‘I yearn to witness my kids reach milestones like graduating high school and college, celebrating their 21st birthdays, and navigating through their own university years.’

‘I want to see them as adults. I just want to stay alive.’

Julia mentioned that she preferred not to have a video call with her kids during her hospital stay for the mastectomy because she didn’t want them to see her in that state, fearing it might cause concern or distress for them.

It can be challenging to explain cancer to young kids without causing fear, as I realized the need for honesty without alarming them.

In my exhilaration, the moment she stepped out of the hospital and headed home, I, her devoted sister, took it upon myself to style her hair and apply her makeup – all in an effort to help her project that unwavering “game face.” It was crucial, you see, to console our kids during this trying time.

She mentioned that the past two years have had challenging instances, such as when one of her daughters inquired whether her cancer might recur.

Julia confessed, “It was incredibly challenging. My battle with cancer significantly impacted my identity, yet it’s not the sole determinant of who I am. It drastically altered my life, shaping how I perceive things and act.

Julia first found a lump in her breast in 2020 which proved to be a benign cluster of cysts.

A year after her initial examination, she underwent another mammography. Although this test didn’t reveal anything abnormal, during the follow-up visit, doctors spotted a shadow in her case.

Reflecting back, around this time last year, I found myself feeling a peculiar lump in my breast while on a business journey. Upon my return and as the world shifted into lockdown, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy about this discovery.

I acknowledge that I wasn’t as diligent as I should have been. It wasn’t until a month later that I reached out to my general practitioner, who I’ve been acquainted with since the age of 18.

‘Fast-forward a year I still had a lump, and I had something called micro cysts.

I was asked to watch over them, which I did comply with. I went ahead for my subsequent mammogram, an appointment I insisted on scheduling. During this visit, I mentioned the discomfort I felt in a lump within my body.

Only during the third medical check-up did the doctor spot a small, unassuming mass that was later identified as a “miniscule growth.

Julia found out immediately that she required a mammogram. “Shortly after,” she explained, “I was undergoing a biopsy; it was at that moment I realized I was embarking on a new journey.

In that instant, a mixture of melancholy and apprehension washed over me as everything suddenly shifted, and indeed, that’s often how cancer can unexpectedly alter the course of life.

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2025-01-09 17:18

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