When Michelle Heaton posed with her family for a piece in our sister magazine OK! to celebrate her first Christmas since getting sober, she wasn’t expecting to get hundreds of concerned messages about her breasts.
The star had a double mastectomy and reconstruction surgery 10 years ago. She made the drastic decision after she was found to carry the faulty BRCA2 gene – which meant she had an 85% chance of suffering breast cancer in her thirties.
In 2015, Michelle, 42, also had a hysterectomy due to ovarian cancer fears.
In the years that followed, she has been open about her troubles with booze and drugs – and last April she beat them with rehab. But while she was celebrating being sober, Michelle was surprised by comments about her breasts looking odd.
“Quite a few people pointed it out and there was one that really did make me pay attention,” Michelle tells new.
“It said something like, ‘Look at her. If I were her I’d be more worried about her breast looking like it’s exploded.’ It’s a difficult one as I always like to say I don’t read nasty comments. But for me, that wasn’t nasty, it was a saviour.”
After reading the comment, the Liberty X star went to her doctor, who feared her implant could be leaking or ruptured. And last month, Michelle – who shares children Faith, 10, and AJ, seven, with husband Hugh Hanley – had further reconstruction surgery.
Here, in our exclusive shoot, the brave star tells us how she’s getting on post-op, why she’s keen to help others who suffer from addiction and reveals her worries about her daughter Faith’s health...
This story is from the March 14, 2022 edition of New UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 14, 2022 edition of New UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
'I loved booze more than my fiancé'
Sarah Pearson spent over a decade in a relationship with alcohol here she tells us what it took for her to break it off and save her life
Coleen's woe as injury hits Wayne move
It's a worrying time for Coleen Rooney as husband Wayne's TV punditry stint on Match Of The Day is put on hold after he hurt his back on holiday
'Your heart breaks over and over'
Two women tell new about the pain of losing their loved ones after they were diagnosed with dementia
My life revolves around Bonnie
Love Island's Laura Anderson chats about her new radio job and honing her organisational skills as a first-time mum
Lisa's 'ready to move on
Lisa Armstrong appears to make peace with her ex-husband Ant McPartlin six years after they split, as she finally feels it's time to make a fresh start
'We almost split after the worst holiday ever
As expert Paul C Brunson prepares for a double dose of TV matchmaking, he reveals that even the pros need help
I want to have my head screwed on'
Reality star Olivia Bowen on the secrets of her happy marriage, her interior design career and exciting life goals
Amanda's 'going all out' to shock
BGT judge Amanda Holden is back on our screens with a new set of racy outfits that show off her fabulous figure to the full
Ricky 'makes Claire laugh'
Ricky Hatton sends Claire Sweeney a loving birthday message as their rumoured romance apparently hots up
VB's mixed feelings on Harper turning 13
As Harper Beckham's 13th birthday approaches, a source tells new that Victoria is feeling emotional about her youngest child growing up