Kirsty Gallagher has revealed why she chose not to undergo surgery (Image: Getty)
has opened up about the first signs of her benign ear tumour and why she chose not to undergo surgery. The 49-year-old presenter courageously revealed the moment she first noticed something was amiss with her health during rehearsals when she experienced hearing issues. Her health scare led to her stepping down from her role on the news channel in December 2021.
She emotionally confessed: “I was doing GB rehearsals, and I had my earpiece, but I couldn’t hear. I went to see a doctor, who said it was an emergency as it could be a brain tumour. After struggling with her hearing during rehearsals, she decided to consult a doctor, which resulted in a series of tests. “I had to have an MRI, and doctors discovered I had an acoustic neuroma [a tumour in the inner ear canal]. We have to monitor it as I don’t want them to operate on it as it’s so close to the brain,” the mother-of-two continued in her conversation with The Sun.
“I have to have targeted radiotherapy for it, so I’m having to think about that and when I will do it.” While appearing on Loose Women back in 2022, Kirsty – who is mum to her kids Oscar, 18, and Jude, 15, also detailed her health woes, saying: “I woke up in the summer one morning, and I couldn’t hear very well in my right ear. She continued: “I thought ‘it will pop at some point’. It didn’t pop,” reports
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Kirsty experienced hearing issues before she discovered her tumour (Image: Getty)
“I went to the doctor, and she asked, ‘How long has this been going on?’ and I replied, ‘Two weeks’.” Gallacher further explained: “She checked and said you’re very healthy, this is an emergency. I asked, ‘Could it be a tumor?'” and she reassured me, saying, ‘Listen, it probably isn’t, but you’re going to see a consultant tomorrow.'”
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Kirsty shared her experience with the consultant, adding: “He said, ‘I’m gonna give you a steroid injection into your eardrum.’ I went back the week after, he said it was an MRI scan.” Kirsty then revealed: “They found I had a very small tumour right in the inner ear canal.”
In November 2021, Kirsty made an emotional announcement on her , revealing that the early 3am starts for her show, “compounded by sleep deprivation,” had exacerbated her symptoms, leading her to step down from her role on 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, making it very difficult to sleep. Sadly, my 3am starts at GB News, compounded by sleep deprivation, are exacerbating my symptoms.
Kirsty made the decision to step down from GB News in 2021 (Image: PA)
“I’ve taken the difficult decision to take a step back from my role on the Great British Breakfast while I focus on my health.” She continued: “GB News has been incredibly supportive of me, and I look forward to returning to the channel as soon as I can.
“As I adjust to managing my condition, I will carry on with my less disruptive work commitments and continue maintaining a healthy lifestyle and training so I can get back to my normal routine quickly. Kirsty x”.