Entertainment
Strictly Come Dancing star reveals hopes for tumour to shrink after ‘learning to live with it’-Meghna Amin-Entertainment – Metro
She’s put off treatment after news from her consultant.
Former Strictly Come Dancing starKirsty Gallacher has shared an update on her tumour (Picture: PA)
Former Strictly Come Dancing star Kirsty Gallacher has shared an update on her benign tumour.
The GB News presenter, 48, announced in 2021 that she was stepping back from her role on the channel’s breakfast programme after discovering a tumour in the inner canal of her right ear.
At the time, she faced difficulty sleeping as the tumour caused ‘severe tinnitus’.
The former Sky Sports presenter added at the time: ‘As I adjust to managing my condition, I will carry on my less disruptive work commitments and continue maintaining a healthy lifestyle and training so I can get back to my normal routine quickly.’
Kirsty later detailed how the condition had effected her life, and was sent for an MRI scan but was told that she would have to learn to live with it as doctor’s didn’t want her to undergo ‘brain surgery’ to remove it.
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Tinnitus is an incurable health condition that causes sounds like ringing or buzzing in one, or both, ears or in a person’s head.
Kirsty discovered a benign tumour in her ear canal in 2021 (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/REX)
Kirsty was partnered with Brendan Cole on Strictly in 2015, where they finished in 11th place (Picture: PA)
In a new interview, Kirsty – who appeared on Strictly in 2015 and was partnered with Brendan Cole – has shared an update on her health, and her hopes that the tumour will ‘shrink itself’.
She said: ‘The tumour is a benign acoustic neuroma which they don’t really know how they are caused.
‘I am in close contact with my consultant and recently it was great to hear that it hasn’t grown so I can put off treatment.
‘Eventually, I may need treatment to shrink it but with these things, you never know it could shrink itself!’
Kirsty has ‘learnt to live with it’ (Picture: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Atlantis The Royal)
She added to the Daily Star: ‘My hearing is slightly compromised in that ear and it causes low-level tinnitus which can disrupt my sleep but I’ve learnt to live with it and I’m used to it.’
In November 2021, Kirsty detailed the impact the tumour was having on her sleep as she announced she was stepping back from GB News.
She wrote: ‘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.
What is tinnitus?
According to the NHS, tinnitus is the name for hearing noises that don’t come from an outside source.
People who suffer with the condition can hear sounds like ringing, humming, hissing, music or singing in one or both ears, on in their head.
The sounds could be constant or come and go, and though it is incurable, there are things to do to help you cope, like avoiding stress or loud background noises, finding ways to improve sleep and ways to relax.
GPs or specialists can refer people with the condition to types of talking therapy or counselling to help.
‘I have taken the difficult decision to take a step back from my role on the Great British Breakfast while I focus on my health.
‘GB News has been incredibly supportive of me and I look forward to returning to the channel as soon as I can.’
Kirsty added: ‘As I adjust to managing my condition, I will carry on my less disruptive work commitments and continue maintaining a healthy lifestyle and training so I can get back to my normal routine quickly.’
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and iPlayer later this year.
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