She regularly reminds her Instagram followers to look out for unusual lumps and bumps on their bodies.
And on Tuesday, Elizabeth Hurley urged women to check their breasts as she revealed that her late grandma kept a lump she discovered a secret for a year, and eventually died from breast cancer.
Appearing on Good Morning Britain, the actress, 56, admitted it’s often the fear of a diagnosis which puts people off going to a doctor once they find something that doesn’t feel right, but impressed the importance of early diagnosis.
Please ladies! Elizabeth Hurley, 56, has urged women to check their breasts while appearing on Tuesday’s Good Morning Britain
Regret: Elizabeth previously became tearful as she revealed her ‘enormous sadness’ over her grandmother’s (pictured) battle, admitting her family ‘weren’t there for her in a way they should have been’
Elizabeth explained: ‘My grandmother was diagnosed [with breast cancer], she didn’t talk about it. She’d found her own lump she didn’t tell anyone for more than a year.
‘She was scared, she was embarrassed and she didn’t know anything about it.’
After finally going to a doctor, her grandmother received a breast cancer diagnosis, but Elizabeth revealed: ‘It was “don’t talk to grandma about it”. No one sat with her with her chemotherapy.’
‘Times have changed but they still need to change,’ insisted the actress.
Devastating: She revealed that her late grandma kept a lump she discovered a secret for a year, and eventually died from breast cancer
Sweet: Elizabeth has previously shared images of her grandmother (third, left)
Elizabeth also revealed how after she’d shared a self-check post via Instagram, two of her friends checked and found lumps.
They were subsequently diagnosed with breast cancer but are now fine because they found the cancer early.
‘Please ladies, start to check!’ urged Elizabeth.
Elsewhere, the actress explained how, although times have changed, some people are still hesitant to go to a doctor due to fear of a diagnosis.
Candid: Elizabeth admitted it’s often the fear of a diagnosis which puts people off going to a doctor, but impressed the importance of early diagnosis
Changes: ‘Breast cancer used to be something only whispered about. Back in the dark ages of breast cancer when people were so terrified of it, it sounded like a death sentence’ she said
Regular reminders: The actress also revealed how after she’d shared a self-check post via Instagram, two of her friends checked and found lumps
She said: ‘I think a lot of us want to put our heads in the sand about health issues, because it’s frightening to know.
‘But because of the work I do for the breast cancer campaign, I’ve met so many thousands of women who have been diagnosed. They didn’t all make it.
‘And having now heard first hand from them, that the ones who found it early are probably the ones I was talking to, and the ones that found it later are sadly no longer around to be talked to.
Raising awareness: The actress is in London fronting a breast cancer awareness campaign
Gorgeous: Elizabeth looked stunning for her GMB appearance, dressed in sleek black trousers and a fuchsia blouse
Beauty: Elizabeth wore her pink breast cancer badge with pride during her TV appearance
‘I think hearing those messages, and I think because now women are more likely to speak up…
‘Breast cancer used to be something only whispered about. Back in the dark ages of breast cancer when people were so terrified of it, it sounded like a death sentence.’
‘People didn’t talk about it. Now that they do, people are sharing their stories more.
‘I think women are more likely to talk about their breasts and check their own breasts and go to their doctor. But there are still people who need to hear about the importance of it.’
Next! After GMB Elizabeth was whisked to Heart FM in central London
Busy lady: Elizabeth looked like a superstar with glamorous black shades shielding her eyes