Davina McCall to have brain surgery for ‘very rare’ benign tumour

Davina McCall has announced that she will be having brain surgery following the discovery of a “very uncommon” tumor.

The 57-year-old television host shared that a non-cancerous brain tumor, referred to as a colloid cyst, was discovered during a health screening she received as part of her efforts to promote menopause awareness.

In an Instagram video, she shared, "I’m putting this out there. It’s Friday morning, and I want to talk about something that happened a few months back. I gave a presentation on menopause for a company, and as a thank-you, they offered me a health scan. I thought I would be perfectly fine, but it turned out that I actually have a benign brain tumor known as a colloid cyst. It's quite uncommon, occurring in about three out of a million people."

For a period of time, I tried to ignore the situation, but eventually, I consulted several neurosurgeons. I gathered various perspectives and came to understand that I needed to have it removed.

McCall referred to it as a large tumor, measuring 14mm across, and stated, "It has to be removed because if it increases in size, it could lead to serious issues."

She is undergoing a craniotomy to take out a portion of her skull and mentioned that she feels “optimistic.”

"I'll be in the hospital for around nine days, after which I'll return home, but I plan to stay away from my phone for some time," McCall stated.

“I don’t want you to be concerned for me. I’m already doing plenty of that on my own. I feel positive about where I am right now, and I fully trust my surgeon and his team. I’m letting them take charge because I believe in their expertise.”

The NHS states that benign brain tumors are more frequently found in individuals over 50 years old. Common signs of these tumors can include headaches, instances of fainting, changes in behavior, and episodes of losing consciousness.

McCall mentioned that her partner, Michael Douglas, would provide updates to fans regarding her health.

In a message on her account, he mentioned that she would be "taking some time away from everything" as she focused on her recovery.

He said, "She is doing really well and is in excellent care. I’ll share some occasional updates from her account for those who want to know. I’m sure she’ll see all your comments when she gets the chance, so don’t hesitate to send your love. The encouragement from everyone means a lot. Wishing you all a wonderful day. Michael xxx."

McCall, a previous host of Big Brother and now the presenter of ITV’s dating program My Mum, Your Dad, has been a strong supporter of women’s health topics. She has also produced documentaries focusing on contraception and menopause.