SHOCK HEALTH REVEAL: Dr Punɑm Krishɑn hɑs reveɑled she is bɑttling cɑncer, opening up ɑbout ɑ diɑgnosis thɑt cɑme ɑs ɑ complete shock

Strictly Come Dancing star Dr Punam Krishan has revealed she is battling breast cancer as she shared the ‘shock’ diagnosis on Instagram on Sunday.

The doctor and TV star, 42, said she was given the devastating news five months ago and has been ‘to some very dark places’ since.

Dr Punam, who took part in the BBC series in 2024, explained that despite being in ‘fear’, she is taking things one day at a time.

She wrote: ‘Here goes… Five months ago, I heard the words nobody ever wants to hear: You have cancer.

‘I still find it hard to write that sentence. But it’s my reality and my truth.

‘I’ve spent almost 2 decades as a doctor, supporting patients and families through difficult diagnoses. And yet, nothing – absolutely nothing – prepares you for being on the receiving end yourself.

‘The shock. The fear. The trauma. In that moment, knowledge means very little.’

Strictly Come Dancing star Dr Punam Krishan, 42, has revealed she is battling breast cancer as she shared the ‘shock’ diagnosis on Instagram on Sunday

The doctor and TV star said she was given the devastating news five months ago and has been ‘to some very dark places’ since; pictured 2024

She continued: ‘I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

‘Since then, I’ve taken things one day at a time because that’s all I could do. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to be cared for by the most extraordinary NHS team, from my GP through to my breast and oncology teams. And still… it’s been really hard. Much harder than I ever imagined.

‘I’ve kept this private while going through treatment, trying to protect my energy and most of all – my children.

‘My husband, my family and a small circle of friends have carried me through in ways I’ll never forget. When something like this happens, you realise very quickly what – and who – truly matters.’

Punam, who is the resident doctor on BBC’s Morning Live show, explained that she had a ‘gut instinct’ that something was wrong and urged fans to get checked.

She said has completed her treatment and has decided to share the scary news now with fans as she is ‘still shaken’ and feeling ‘heavy’.

The BBC star penned: ‘I’ve now completed treatment and I’m healing. Grateful. Relieved. Still shaken. All of those things can exist at once.

‘I’m sharing this now because carrying it quietly has been heavy. Because I’ve always believed in honesty.

Dr Punam, who took part in the BBC series in 2024, explained that despite being in ‘fear’, she is taking things one day at a time

She wrote: ‘Here goes… Five months ago, I heard the words nobody ever wants to hear: You have cancer. I still find it hard to write that sentence. But it’s my reality and my truth’

Punam explained that she had a ‘gut instinct’ that something was wrong and urged fans to get checked early

‘And because life rarely looks like the highlight reel, even when it seems that way from the outside.

‘Cancer doesn’t discriminate. I had no family history. I was well. I’m a doctor. And yet – here I am.

‘What I’ve learned most is this: early detection saves lives. It saved mine. My story began with an unusual feeling – a gut instinct. Listening to it mattered. Please know your body. Trust yourself. And act early if something doesn’t feel right.

‘This experience has changed me. It’s taken me to very dark places mentally – conversations about your own mortality will do that – but it’s also stripped life back to what truly matters.

‘Your health is everything. Not work. Not possessions. Not perfection. I have so much more to share when I’m ready. For now, thank you for being here and for holding space with such kindness.’

Punam’s friends and Strictly pals quickly took to the comments to send their love including her former dance partner Gorka Marquez and professional dancer Amy Dowden, who has also suffered breast cancer.

Gorka penned: ‘I know you and I Know you will get through this! And we will be sat having a coffee and a croissant’.

Amy wrote: ‘You got this pink sister xxxxxxx sending so much love xxxxxxxxx’

Others penned: ‘Sending so much love to you; Sending you all the love ..You’ve got this; You know I adore you – you did everything right – Sending so much love and duas;

‘Sending my love!!!!! Speedy recovery xx; Thank you so much for sharing and raising awareness about early detection. Sending you lots of love’.

Dr Punam’s Strictly pals took to the comments to send their love including her former partner Gorka Marquez and professional dancer Amy Dowden, who has also suffered breast cancer

Punam is happily married to Scottish Conservative health spokesman, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, who she shares two children, a son Aarish, 12, and a daughter Ellora, five

Punam took part in the 2024 series of Strictly and came in eleventh place with comedian Chris McCausland going on to win the Glitterball.

She is happily married to Scottish Conservative health spokesman, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, who she shares two children, a son Aarish, 12, and a daughter Ellora, five, with and regularly shares snaps of the family on Instagram.

The star is a broadcaster on TV, radio and national newspapers, who is passionate about using her platform to teach people more about their physical and mental health.

The NHS GP is one of the resident doctors on BBC Morning Live and on BBC Radio Scotland’s Phone In Surgery.

She is also an author of How to Be A Doctor And Other Life-Saving Jobs and published You And Your Body last year.

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and affects more than two MILLION women a year

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Each year in the UK there are more than 55,000 new cases, and the disease claims the lives of 11,500 women. In the US, it strikes 266,000 each year and kills 40,000. But what causes it and how can it be treated?

What is breast cancer?

It comes from a cancerous cell which develops in the lining of a duct or lobule in one of the breasts.

When the breast cancer has spread into surrounding tissue it is called ‘invasive’. Some people are diagnosed with ‘carcinoma in situ’, where no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobule.

Most cases develop in those over the age of 50 but younger women are sometimes affected. Breast cancer can develop in men, though this is rare.

Staging indicates how big the cancer is and whether it has spread. Stage 1 is the earliest stage and stage 4 means the cancer has spread to another part of the body.

The cancerous cells are graded from low, which means a slow growth, to high, which is fast-growing. High-grade cancers are more likely to come back after they have first been treated.

What causes breast cancer?

A cancerous tumour starts from one abnormal cell. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. It is thought that something damages or alters certain genes in the cell. This makes the cell abnormal and multiply ‘out of control’.

Although breast cancer can develop for no apparent reason, there are some risk factors that can increase the chance, such as genetics.

What are the symptoms of breast cancer?

The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast, although most are not cancerous and are fluid filled cysts, which are benign.

The first place that breast cancer usually spreads to is the lymph nodes in the armpit. If this occurs you will develop a swelling or lump in an armpit.

How is breast cancer diagnosed?

Initial assessment: A doctor examines the breasts and armpits. They may do tests such as a mammography, a special x-ray of the breast tissue which can indicate the possibility of tumours.
Biopsy: A biopsy is when a small sample of tissue is removed from a part of the body. The sample is then examined under a microscope to look for abnormal cells. The sample can confirm or rule out cancer.

If you are confirmed to have breast cancer, further tests may be needed to assess if it has spread. For example, blood tests, an ultrasound scan of the liver or a chest X-ray.

How is breast cancer treated?

Treatment options which may be considered include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment. Often a combination of two or more of these treatments are used.

Surgery: Breast-conserving surgery or the removal of the affected breast depending on the size of the tumour.
Radiotherapy: A treatment which uses high energy beams of radiation focused on cancerous tissue. This kills cancer cells, or stops them from multiplying. It is mainly used in addition to surgery.
Chemotherapy: A treatment of cancer by using anti-cancer drugs which kill cancer cells, or stop them from multiplying.
Hormone treatments: Some types of breast cancer are affected by the ‘female’ hormone oestrogen, which can stimulate the cancer cells to divide and multiply. Treatments which reduce the level of these hormones, or prevent them from working, are commonly used in people with breast cancer.

How successful is treatment?

The outlook is best in those who are diagnosed when the cancer is still small, and has not spread. Surgical removal of a tumour in an early stage may then give a good chance of cure.

The routine mammography offered to women between the ages of 50 and 71 means more breast cancers are being diagnosed and treated at an early stage.

For more information visit breastcancernow.org or call its free helpline on 0808 800 6000