This Morning viewers applauded Vanessa Feltz’s bravery after she underwent a mammogram live on the show to show that the test is nothing to fear.
During the morning show, presenters Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley revealed that Vanessa would be undergoing the intimate medical exam – an x-ray of the breasts that can be used to check for breast cancer – live on air.
The former Celebs Go Dating star then appeared on screen in a hospital gown while her breast was being scanned, cheerfully telling viewers that while she could feel a ‘squashing’ sensation, the procedure wasn’t at all painful.
It was a movingly vulnerable moment for Vanessa, who has been encouraging people to check themselves for cancer symptoms after opening up about her mother’s cancer diagnosis back in 2023.
Her mother, Valerie Ohrenstein, died from endometrial cancer aged 57, in 1995, and Vanessa believes it could have been prevented with earlier detection.
Viewers were impressed by Vanessa’s bravery, with X user @itsbr0gan
writing: ‘I think it’s amazing seeing daytime telly showing the reality of things women have to do #ThisMorning.’
@_Normski posted: ‘Fair play to Vanessa!!! Love that woman 👏👏👏 #ThisMorning’
@MadameMinge agreed: ‘Jokes aside, fair play to Vanessa for doing this, it’s a little uncomfortable (literally for a few seconds) but not painful, and can save your life! #ThisMorning’
@HelenMackie27 chimed in: ‘A big cheer for the great Vanessa for having a mammogram live on air, brilliant. She’s smiling but it’s a brave thing to do live #ThisMorning’
@DutchMooCow wrote: ‘Good on her!’
Michelle Kane, Director of Screening and Vaccination at NHS England, was also moved by Vanessa’s decision to have the exam done on live TV.
She told Metro in a statement: ‘We’re incredibly grateful to Vanessa for raising the vital importance of breast screening on national TV.
‘It’s fantastic that she took the time to share her experience so openly with viewers and talk directly to women about why breast screening can save lives, and what they can expect when they go for their appointment.
‘The NHS launched a new national campaign earlier this month to encourage more women to attend breast screening when invited, and if you are worried about any symptoms in the meantime then please visit your GP.’
Vanessa has long spoken out about the importance of women being proactive about their health, particularly because of gender bias in the medical field.
She previously said that her mother’s illness was diagnosed too late due to ‘medical misogyny.’
What is a mammogram?
A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast tissue to look for cancers that are too small to see or feel.
During breast screenings, patients have 4 breast X-rays (mammograms), 2 for each breast.
Mammograms are done by a specialist called a mammographer, who are female.
The exam only take a few minutes and the whole appointment should take about 30 minutes.
On her TalkTV show in 2023, Vanessa shared her personal upset.
‘My mother was suddenly getting the most tremendous abdominal pain but only sporadically and only sometimes and very unpredictably but it was incredibly painful when it happened,’ she explained.
‘She went from doctor to doctor to doctor, specialist to specialist and they all pretty much did that pat her on the head thing saying, you know, “Are you neurotic? Are you looking for attention? Is it the menopause?…” and it turned out to be endometrial cancer and she died at the age of 57.’
She added that Valerie was ‘neither heard nor listened to,’ and that it eventually ‘spread so far that they couldn’t really do anything much about it’.
After initially getting reassurance from medical professionals that Valerie was okay, Vanessa and her family felt less inclined to continue to look into it.
‘When the doctor says it’s nothing to worry about, “Don’t worry your pretty little head about it” you just think, “Okay, good” don’t you?’
She continued: ‘As her family, we, to some extent, thought, “They say it’s nothing serious, good” rather than “Push harder, push harder, and try and find out what it is, it must be something”.’
