Davina McCall shares major health update after revealing issues with memory due to brain surgery for 14mm rare tumour
It comes after the presenter underwent major surgery just after a week ago
DAVINA McCall has shared a major health update after revealing issues with memory due to brain surgery.
The TV presenter, 57, revealed she’s feeling “much better” now she’s recovering at home from an operation to remove a 14mm rare tumour.
She added that she’s being “brilliantly” looked after by her boyfriend Michael Douglas and step-mother Gabby.
Davina, known for being a former Big Brother presenter and The Masked Singer, previously revealed she was having issues with her long-term memory, but says she’s now seeing major improvement.
She said: “I’m just trying to sleep a lot and get better. My short term memory is really improving a lot everyday and it has been an example to me on how much sleep helps me recover from everything.”
Adding that her solution for any ongoing confusion was sleep, she said: “If I feel a bit confused or am struggling to concentrate I just go to sleep and wake up renewed and refreshed so I know my brain needs lots of sleep.”
She underwent a gruelling six-hour operation to remove the tumour but has since been regularly updating her fans on her progress.
Previously, she has spoken out about how her short-term memory “is a bit remiss” but confirmed it is something she can work on.
Davina revealed it’s her boyfriend Michael’s “busiest time of year” but he’s still helping her recover, in her post’s caption.
She added: “Every day I feel stronger and stronger.
“I just wanted to say thanks for all of you support, it meant the world to me and my family.
“And also to @mdlondon, hes been a complete legend.
“If he’s not with me, he’s at work, for his busiest time of year bless him. I’m sleeping loads. Recovery thru sleep.
“I still feel so lucky. Grateful. Blessed.”
It comes after the 57-year-old announced she had undergone major brain surgery just over a week ago to remove a “very rare” cyst – believed to only affect three in a million people.
Attending a health-check up as part of her menopause advocacy work, she discovered her condition.
She was put into the intensive care unit (ICU) following the operation on November 15.
Her boyfriend, Michael Douglas, shared the happy news that she was out of the ICU three days later.
She addressed her surgery and recovery for the first time in a video saying every message she had received had “meant the world” and that she was “on the other side”.
Her close friend Sarah Hiscox also posted a selfie of the pair and joked that her pal was “still serving style”.
Davina replied to the picture: “What a tonic x.”
Symptoms of a benign brain tumour
A benign brain tumour is a mass of cells that grows relatively slowly in the brain.
Benign means it in not cancerous.
Non-cancerous brain tumours tend to stay in one place and do not spread.
Some slow-growing tumours may not cause any symptoms at first.
When symptoms occur, it’s because the tumour is putting pressure on the brain and preventing a specific area of the brain from working properly.
As the tumour grows and increases pressure in the skull, you might experience:
- New, persistent headaches that are sometimes worse in the morning or when bending over or coughing
- Feeling sick all the time
- Drowsiness
- Vision problems, such as blurred or double vision, loss of part of your visual field and temporary vision loss
- Epileptic seizures that may affect the whole body, or you may just have a twitch in one area
See a GP if you develop any of these symptoms.
They’ll examine you and ask about your symptoms.
If they suspect you may have a tumour or are not sure what’s causing your symptoms, they may refer you to a brain and nerve specialist for further investigation.
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Yesterday, Davina’s belated boyfriend gave promising news about when the TV star may return to work.
Speaking on an Instagram Live chat, Michael said: “She’s quite tired atm.”
He then added that she needs time to “relax and recuperate” and so will be “off till mid January“.
Experts have revealed that more people are being diagnosed with Davina’s extremely rare brain tumour.
They believe this is down to advances in testing and thanks to MRI and CT scans.
Colloid cysts form in the embryo and can go unnoticed until symptoms such as memory loss or headaches appear.
They can be life-threatening and even require urgent surgery as continued growth can cause a fluid build-up in the brain.
Brain Tumour Research boss Dr Karen Noble said: “Colloid cysts are thought to be rare, with around 255 people in the UK diagnosed each year.
“Diagnosis is increasing due to widespread use of MRI and CT scans, as in Davina’s case.”
She added: “Early diagnosis is key to a positive long-term prognosis.”
Non-cancerous brain tumours are more common in those over 50 with symptoms including headaches, blackouts, behavioural changes and loss of consciousness, according to the NHS.
Back in October, Davina first hinted at her condition after breaking down in tears on her Begin Again podcast ahead of her operation.
Speaking to Fearne Cotton, she heaped praise on the presenter with the pair taking a moment to hug.
It was not until November 15, when Davina released a pre-recorded video to officially announce she was suffering from the colloid cyst.
Davina said she had spoken to “quite a few neurosurgeons” and “realised” she would need to get the cyst surgically removed.