Julia Bradbury has opened up on how being diagnosed with breast cancer made her feel.
In a new ITV documentary, being shown at 9pm tonight, the TV presenter said that her devastating diagnosis was "crushing". The 51-year-old mum-of-three, who presented the BBC One show Countryfile until 2014 before moving across to ITV, announced last September that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and needed urgent surgery. Six months later the TV presenter is still undergoing treatment.
The film, Julia Bradbury: Breast Cancer and Me, will tell Julia’s personal story as one in seven women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime in the UK. It will follow her both before and after her mastectomy - seeing her family through the process of physical and psychological recovery, as well as meeting other families facing similar struggles.
READ MORE: This Morning's Julia Bradbury explains 'hardest thing' about cancer diagnosis
Julia said: "I wanted to make this documentary to help spread awareness about this pervasive disease that now affects one in seven women. There was so much I didn’t know about breast cancer before my diagnosis and I hope this helps highlight the complexities of our individual cases, as well as exploring some of the incredible support networks that are out there and the new science and knowledge that continues to evolve. The impact of a cancer diagnosis goes way beyond the initial devastating news and the ripple effect on those close to you is crushing.”
Chrissi, Julia’s mum, said of her daughter's diagnosis: “When she told us she had been diagnosed, I was shell shocked. I can't tell you how I felt because I didn’t even know myself. I still don’t know. Other than if someone had said, ‘Can you take it away from her and you can have it’, I’d have said yes.”
Produced by TwoFour, the documentary will follow Julia from the early stages of her diagnosis in a one off episode which will last for 60 minutes on ITV. Grace Reynolds, Executive Producer, Twofour, said: "It has been a privilege to work with Julia and her family, and to be allowed to follow them on such a personal and sensitive journey.
"Julia is a remarkably strong woman, and it’s been fascinating to see how this strength has carried her through these incredibly tough past few months. We know that she is passionate about helping other women and their families who are facing this terrible disease, and hope that this film can work to raise awareness about detection as well as the process of recovery."
Julia Bradbury: Breast Cancer and Me will air tonight on ITV and ITV Hub from 9pm
Receive newsletters with the biggest and breaking TV and showbiz news by signing up here
