Shirley Ballas, a Strictly Come Dancing veteran, has issued an urgent caution to fans to not miss their health exams.
After receiving a biopsy under local anaesthesia, the 63-year-old chief judge posted a message to admirers on Instagram.
Following Strictly dancer Amy Dowden’s breast cancer diagnosis last year, Shirley wrote: ‘Urging all ladies not to miss their mammogram.
‘I went for mine, ended up going for a second one and a biopsy, local anaesthetic biopsy done.
‘Now waiting for results… @Amy_Dowden you ran through my mind the importance of not putting it off go and get tested. Plus self breast check recently.’
Shirley raised her top in the image she posted, revealing her breast bandaged in a bandage after the checkup.
Shirley is not the only TV celebrity who has used her position to urge others to be tested. Good Morning Britain’s Susanna Reid described Sarah Ferguson’s breast cancer diagnosis as a ‘wake-up call’ for her to make an appointment.
Amy, 33, was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in May 2023 and declined to participate in this year’s series due to further tumours discovered after a single mastectomy.
Throughout her treatment, she provided health updates with fans, including poignant footage of shaving her head, encouragement from her Strictly co-stars, and the exciting news that there is no longer any trace of sickness in her body in February.
Resharing Shirley’s story, Amy wrote on Instagram: ‘Always here for you! Important message here all from @shirleyballas.’
Shirley, who sits alongside Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke, joined the Strictly panel in 2017.
In 2021, fans expressed worry over a bulge under her arm while watching the broadcast, prompting her newest update.
She later explained she was going to hospital for ‘full blood work’ and that she found out her hormone levels are ‘all over the place’.
‘So I went and had a lot of blood work done, and now the testosterone’s come back ultra high, the adrenal glands need a scan and my ovaries need a scan, my oestrogen levels are extremely low. All in all, a little concerning for my doctor,’ she said at the time.
Shirley added: ‘And all because several concerned people bothered to let me know what was going on. I love you all and I appreciate you, and thank you.’
The BBC personality comes from a family with a history of illness, and she herself has had two scares, the most recent just a few months ago.