Lorraine Kelly stops show live on air to announce ‘amazing’ ITV co-star’s sad death
LORRAINE Kelly interrupted her ITV show today to deliver an emotional tribute after a beloved colleague had died.
The Lorraine presenter, 64, took a moment to inform viewers of the sad death of Heather Sawyer, who has passed away aged 50 from breast cancer.
She said that Heather, a member of the Lorraine Change + Check choir, had bravely fought the disease but it had returned and she lost her battle on October 5.
Lorraine, 64, said: “I’m very sorry to have to share some sad news this morning.
“One of our amazing singers, Heather Sawyer, has died from secondary breast cancer.
“Heather was only 50 years old, an astonishing woman.
“She was such a huge part of the choir, so passionate about everything. Amazing.”
Dr Hilary Jones joined the presenter in the studio to remember Heather, who left behind her husband and 11 grandchildren.
He said: “She was a wonderful lady who sang at the choir to celebrate the Change + Check campaign.
“And you know, what she would want right now is for us to remind women, check themselves, do the self examination, go and see your GP, get it sorted out as soon as possible.”
“She absolutely would, and we’re sending all of our love to Heather.
“A very, very special lady,” Lorraine said.
Heather battled terminal Stage 4 cancer, with her husband revealing the sad news on social media on Saturday.
Her cancer had tragically spread to the left side of her brain and she underwent a mastectomy, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy.
He said: “Shortly before 1am this morning 5th October Heather lost her fight to cancer and took her last breaths and passed away peacefully.
“We know just how many people have followed Heather’s journey and how many lives she has touched from the sheer volume of messages, voice notes, the flood of the #hevupsocials hashtag.”
The family continued in a statement: “We as a family want to firstly thank each and every one of you beautiful people who have visited, sent well wishes and thought of Heather during this time.
“It has not gone unnoticed and we will be forever grateful to each and every one of you as you all made her know just how loved she was in her final days.”
A legend of breakfast telly, Lorraine and her group of cancer warriors have hosted the Change + Check campaign for six years.
It was created to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer.
Producer of Lorraine’s show, Helen Addis, helped to found the campaign after her own struggle with the terrible disease.
What is breast cancer and how does it spread?
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK - with one woman diagnosed every ten minutes.
While most women can get breast cancer, it is most common in women who are over the age of 50.
According to Cancer Research UK, breast cancer starts in the breast tissue.
Breast cancer develops when abnormal cells in the breast begin to grow and divide in an uncontrolled way and eventually form a growth.
Most invasive breast cancers are found in the upper-outer quadrant of the breast.
If it’s not diagnosed and treated it can move through the lymph or blood vessels to other areas of the body.
Each year in the UK there are around 55,200 new breast cancer cases.
This equates to around 150 new cases a day.
It also accounts for 15 per cent of all new cancer cases each year.
If the cancer is diagnosed at its earliest stage then 98 per cent of people will survive the disease for five years or more.
If it is diagnosed at the latest stage, then just 26 per cent of people survive for five years or more.
What are the four stages of breast cancer?
Stage one: The cancer is small and only in the breast tissue – but can also be found in lymph nodes close to the breast.
Stage two: The cancer is either in the breast or in the nearby lymph nodes or both.
Stage three: The cancer has spread from the breast to the lymph nodes or the skin of the breast or the chest wall.
Stage four: The cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
What are the signs?
- A lump in the breast or armpit
- Changes in the positioning of the nipple
- Nipples leaking in women who have not had children
- Skin changes