Dame Joan Bakewell reveals heartbreaking diagnosis after sister's cancer death

Dame Joan Bakewell has revealed that she has been diagnosed with cancer.

The legendary broadcaster shared the news earlier this week, explaining that she was diagnosed during a routine examination.

It comes just seven years after the death of her sister, Jackie Collins, who died of breast cancer in 2015.

She has been a patron for Breast Cancer Care ever since.

The 89-year-old journalist shared her positive and hopeful outlook, saying: “I’ve always been optimistic because I caught this cancer early on, and within a week I was in hospital having an operation."

The operation happened before Christmas and Dame Joan said she was recovering.

"I’m feeling fine, and the chemotherapy is a mopping-up operation to make sure it doesn’t come back."

Speaking to the Daily Mail she continued: “I should be having chemotherapy once every two weeks, but I’ll still be out, and was at the ballet the other night.

Dame Joan had an operation to remove the cancer shortly after her diagnosis.
Matt Crossick

"I don’t let it interfere, as much as possible, but, obviously, I do as I’m told. You just have to get on with life.

"And, of course, I’ve been in a position to learn treatments have improved so much and cancer is no longer a death sentence – that’s why we need to catch it early and do all the tests that arise and go through it.

"In a sense, it’s made me optimistic, which sounds odd."

Dame Joan Bakewell has revealed that she has been diagnosed with cancer.
Johnny Green