Shirley Ballas is having a lump under her right arm checked out by her doctor after it was pointed out by Strictly Come Dancing viewers.
The head judge on the BBC One dance contest took to Instagram on Saturday to reveal she was inundated with messages of concern by fans of the show.
After doing a ‘self-check’, the 61-year-old former Latin champion, who said she could feel what appears to be a ‘tiny little node’, revealed she is going to her doctor on Tuesday to get it checked over properly.
Getting checked: Shirley Ballas, 61, is having a lump under her right arm checked out by her doctor after Strictly Come Dancing viewers spotted it
Shirley captioned the clip: ‘So many messages over the last three weeks about suspected lump under my right arm.
‘I have done a self check and will go to my Dr on Tuesday. Thank you to those who reached out with their concerns.
‘To all be vigilant and do self checks regularly. #selfcheck #nodes #breastcancerawareness #gratitude #thankyou (sic).’
Seeking help: After doing a ‘self-check’, the 61-year-old former Latin champion, who said she could feel what appears to be a ‘tiny little node’, is going to her doctor on Tuesday
Shirley also shared the messages of concern she had received.
One person wrote: ‘I don’t want to alarm you but you have lump in your right arm pit, please get it checked out.’
Another person wrote: ‘I know you must get a lot of messages but can I just say you looked really beautiful tonight. As I’ve just went through cancer can I ask if you could get your lymph nodes checked under your arm as I noticed a lump under your arm tonight watching. Sorry, just worried.’
Voice of concern: The head judge on the BBC One celebrity dance contest took to Instagram to reveal she was inundated with messages of concern by fans
‘Lymph node R armpit,’ wrote another person. ‘Dear Shirley you are wonderful. I noticed tonight you had a visible raised lymph node in your R armpit.
‘You may already be aware but I just wanted you to consider getting it checked. It could be due to something very minor like a virus or infection, but please get it checked.’
While another person wrote: ‘I genuinely don’t want to upset or alarm you, but I noticed while watching the show tonight that it looks like you’ve got a lump in your right armpit. Please check it.
‘I would hate for it to be something and I hadn’t said anything. Thanks for being wonderful on the show.’
Speaking out: Shirley captioned a clip on Instagram: ‘So many messages over the last three weeks about suspected lump under my right arm’
Self care: She added: ‘To all be vigilant and do self checks regularly. #selfcheck #nodes #breastcancerawareness #gratitude #thankyou (sic)’
In 2019, the choreographer underwent a four-hour operation to have her breast implants removed due to cancer fears.
She said at the time that she hopes young women will learn to love their own bodies, rather than get ‘all these procedures’.
She said: ‘Don’t think you need to have these procedures to make you look more attractive.
‘For young women, if someone is making you feel bad about yourself, talk to someone. But don’t do what I did.
‘You can’t make somebody love you, no matter what you do to yourself. You can get implants, you can get all these procedures, thinking you will be more of a woman for that person. But it does not make a difference.
‘If they don’t love you, they won’t no matter what you do to your appearance. It’s learning to love yourself.’
Shirley made the decision to remove her DD breast implants and embrace her natural A cup after she discovered a potentially dangerous capsule that had grown unexpectedly.
And for those still considering implants, the TV star urged them to ‘do their research’ into the possible risks.
She added: ‘Do your research about the implants. I did not do mine. I thought if I put them in I’d look better and my husband would think of me as more desirable.
‘I made this choice many years ago not understanding what I was really doing, except telling myself I didn’t look good enough.’
In June this year, Shirley suffered another cancer scare after finding a lump in her shoulder.
Speaking on GB News, Shirley explained she’s had two other cancer scares in the past, and is anxiously awaiting the results of her tests.
Eagle-eyed: Shirley was sent messages by concerned Strictly Come Dancing fans after they noticed the lump under her arm while watching the show
She said: ‘I got the Covid virus and then they found a ganglion cyst or a tumour in my shoulder.
‘I am going backwards and forwards to the hospital all the time. I feel I seem to be getting sicker by the minute. I can’t seem to get up and out. It’s something between two bones and they are not really sure what it is yet.
‘They have done the dye and the MRIs plus this and that. I get the results in a few weeks. The gentleman seems to think it will be fine but, still, it is worrying.’
Shirley has a history of cancer in her family, with her mum Audrey diagnosed with colon cancer in 2019, while grandmother and aunt have both battled the disease.
Scare: In 2019, the choreographer underwent a four-hour operation to have her breast implants removed due to cancer fears