The presenter, 51, confirmed this weekend she is having a mastectomy next month to remove a 6cm tumour from her left breast.
Only last week she broke the news of her devastating diagnosis to son Zeph, 10, and six-year-old daughters Zena and Xanthe.
Julia told the three children, who she shares with property developer husband Gerard Cunningham, while walking around their garden at home.
She tearfully revealed yesterday how Xanthe responded by asking: “Mummy can I still hug you?”
Julia explained: “I said: ‘Yes darling, I need your hugs more than ever.’
“They were OK. I have told them to ask whatever they want...how honest can you be with children without scaring them?”
The BBC star said appearing on the red carpet earlier this month in an offthe-shoulder outfit at the National Television Awards was a “kind of goodbye to the body I’ve been living in all these years”.
Describing how she reacted to her diagnosis, she added: “It changes your world forever in an instant.
Shattering
“There is no preparing you for those words. You hear ‘cancer’ and your brain starts to explode.
This story is from the September 20, 2021 edition of Daily Express.
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 September 20, 2021 edition of Daily Express.
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
SAINZ IN THE FRAME AT RED BULL
CARLOS SAINZ has held talks with Red Bull over a move to become Max Verstappen's team-mate.
All Guns blazing for the title now
MARTIN Odegaard insists Arsenal can lift their season by getting back on track in the title race.
UGLY END TO KLOPP'S DREAM
Jurgen's 'beautiful' night falls flat despite ideal start
HAMMERS OUT
Bayer break hearts of Moyes' boys
HANNON'S HAAT OF GOLD
HAATEM'S 2,000 Guineas odds were slashed to 20-1 from 100-1 after he streaked clear in the bet365 Craven Stakes.
Sanctions target Iranian military leaders as G7 plots to avoid war
IRANIAN military chiefs behind Tehran's unprecedented missile and drone attack on Israel have been sanctioned by the UK and US.
Teenager rescued after breaking leg on climb
Ben thought he would die
Grieving mum: 'Nursery told me safety was paramount'
Baby death trial hears of fears
Days of near-zero interest rates look to be over for good
'The deficit from Gordon Brown's time has never been closed'
Sturgeon's husband charged over embezzling SNP funds
Probe police re-arrest Murrell
