Gemma Collins having gene test after mum’s breast cancer scare: ‘It was a wake up call’
26.03.2023 - 17:41
/ ok.co.uk
TOWIE legend Gemma Collins has revealed that she is undergoing a potentially life-saving genetic test, to see if she carries the BRCA gene which assesses a person’s risk for developing breast cancer. The decision came after Gemma’s mum, Joan, 67, found a cancerous lump between her breast and armpit, prompting Gemma to take her own health seriously. Additionally, the reality star had also previously lost a female relative to the disease, and hoped that by taking the test she could have some peace of mind about her own risks of developing breast cancer.
Recalling the moment her mum shared the news of her diagnosis, Gemma told The Sun, that she didn’t actually find out about Joan’s secret health battle until she’d been given the all clear. “It was over the phone. I was in the back of a taxi in London and I was like, ‘Are you all right, mum? Where are you?’ — as we say every day, ten times a day,” recalled the star.
“She said, ‘Ah I didn’t want to tell you, but I’ve had a lump in my breast. I was like, ‘What?’, and she said, ‘But it’s fine I’ve got the all-clear’. I was like, ‘Oh, my God.
Why didn’t you tell me?” Since receiving the all clear, Joan now attends a screening every year to detect for any unusual changes in the breast tissue and to check for any chance of recurrence. The type of cancer that Gemma’s mum had, was a ductal carcinoma in situ, which means normal cells in the lining of the breast tissue have sadly become cancerous. These cancerous cells are contained inside the milk ducts however, meaning that the surrounding breast tissue remains unaffected.