Kirsty Gallacher’s Shocking Health Diagnosis

Kirsty Gallacher shared details about the initial sign of her non-cancerous ear growth and explained why she declined surgery, as she spoke candidly about her health struggles.

The television presenter, 49, stepped away from her high-profile job on the breakfast show at GB News in December 2021 after a health scare.

She discovered she had a benign tumour in her ear after doctors had warned her she could have had a brain tumour.

But mum-of-two Kirsty doesn’t want doctors to operate on it as it is located so close to her brain – meaning she has to now consider having targeted radiotherapy instead. 

She told The Sun of her health woes: ‘I was doing GB rehearsals and I had my earpiece, but I couldn’t hear. I went to see a doctor, who said it was an emergency as it could be a brain tumour.

‘I had to have an MRI and doctors discovered I had an acoustic neuroma [a tumour in the inner ear canal].

‘We have to monitor it as I don’t want them to operate on it as it’s so close to the brain.

I need to undergo targeted radiotherapy, so I’m currently considering when I should schedule it.

She expressed that she felt weak when she learned about it, thinking about her children, Oscar, who is 18, and Jude, who is 15, and pondering over what could potentially happen to her.

Kirsty did add however that she feels ‘lucky and grateful’ that it wasn’t a worse diagnosis.

Speaking candidly on Loose Women in 2022, Kirsty also detailed the health woes, saying: ‘I woke up in the summer one morning and I couldn’t hear very well in my right ear.’

She continued by saying, “I assumed it would burst eventually.” However, it did not burst. The following week, I boarded a plane and it still hadn’t burst.

‘I went to the doctor and she said ”how long has this been going on?” and I said ”two weeks”.’

The TV star continued: ‘She checked and said you’re very healthy, this is an emergency. I said ”could it be a tumour?” and she said ”listen, it probably isn’t, but you’re going to see a consultant tomorrow”.’

In conversation with her consultant, Kirsty explained, “He suggested administering a steroid injection directly into my ear.

‘I went back the week after, he said it was an MRI scan.’

Kirsty then shared: ‘They found I had a very small tumour right in the inner ear canal.’

In November 2021, Kirsty announced that she was going to take a break from her hosting duties on the channel because of health issues.

The TV personality – who had co-presented The Great British Breakfast since July 2021 with Simon McCoy – told how a benign ear tumour had caused her ‘severe tinnitus’ and had left her unable to work.

In an emotional statement posted to her Instagram at the time, Kirsty said the early 3am starts for her show ‘compounded by sleep deprivation’ had exacerbated her symptoms.

She penned: ‘During the summer I discovered I have a tumour in the inner canal of my right ear. Thankfully, it’s benign and not hugely detrimental to my normal life.

‘However, the tumour has caused severe tinnitus which makes it very difficult to sleep.

‘Sadly my 3am starts at GB News, compounded by sleep deprivation, are exacerbating my symptoms.

I’ve made the tough choice of stepping away from my position on The Great British Breakfast so that I can concentrate on taking care of my health.”

the speaker is stepping away from their job on The Great British Breakfast to focus on their health.

* GB News has been very helpful to me, and I eagerly anticipate going back to their channel when I am able to do so.

‘As I adjust to managing my condition, I will carry on with my less disruptive work commitments and continue maintaining a healthy lifestyle and training so I can get back to my normal routine quickly. Kirsty x’

Tinnitus refers to the experience of perceiving sounds within your ears that aren’t produced by external sources.

It’s not always clear what causes tinnitus, but it is often linked to some form of hearing loss, Ménière’s disease, conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, multiple sclerosis and anxiety or depression.

Approximately 7.1 million people in Britain experience a health situation that may lead to persistent ear noises similar to a jet engine.

Tinnitus most affects people aged 55 to 75.

Kirsty began her career at Sky Sports News in 1998 and hosted Kirsty’s Home Videos, RI:SE and Simply the Best before returning to Sky Sports News from 2011–2018.

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2025-03-16 13:05

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