TV presenter Davina McCall, 57, has revealed she will undergo surgery to remove a rare benign brain tumor called a colloid cyst. The tumor was discovered unexpectedly during a health scan she received after giving a menopause talk for a company.
McCall explained that the tumor is 14mm wide and located in a critical area of her brain. While the tumor is benign, she emphasized that it needs to be removed because potential growth could cause serious complications. She will undergo a craniotomy, a surgical procedure where part of the skull is removed to extract the tumor.
Colloid cysts are extremely rare, occurring in only three out of a million people. They typically form in a fluid-filled cavity in the brain’s center and can potentially block cerebrospinal fluid flow. If left untreated, they can cause serious symptoms including headaches, vision problems, nausea, and in extreme cases, loss of consciousness or sudden death.
McCall has been transparent about her medical journey, sharing details with her followers on social media. Speaking alongside her partner Michael Douglas, she expressed confidence in her medical team and maintained a positive attitude. She expects to spend approximately nine days in the hospital and has asked her followers not to worry.
Douglas will temporarily manage her social media accounts, promising to provide updates on her condition. He emphasized that McCall is in good hands and encouraged supporters to send messages of love and support.
Brain tumor charities have praised McCall for her openness. The Brain Tumour Charity expressed gratitude for her raising awareness about the condition, while Brainstrust’s chief executive, Will Jones, noted that brain tumors can affect anyone and are more common than people realize. Over 80,000 people in the UK are currently living with a brain tumor.
McCall is well-known for her extensive television career, which includes hosting shows like Big Brother, Long Lost Family, and Comic and Sport Relief. She has also been a prominent advocate for menopause awareness, winning awards for her work in this area, including a special recognition award at the National TV Awards and a top prize at the British Book Awards for her co-authored book “Menopausing”.
Her advocacy work has significantly impacted public discourse, with her documentary “Sex, Myths and Menopause” leading to a substantial increase in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) demand – a phenomenon dubbed the “Davina effect”.
McCall concluded her announcement by expressing faith in her surgical team and optimism about her recovery, telling her followers, “I’ll see you on the other side.”
