Loose Women’s Andrea had a cancer scare while pregnant‘The weeks of waiting were horrible’ By Sarah Johnson “The stress and worry is almost as bad as the news itself,” Andrea told me. “We’d been so busy smiling through it all and trying to be positive we hadn’t realised how scared we’d been until it was over. “Mum was very lucky. After finding a lump in her breast she went to her doctor. The lump was nothing and had been caused by an ill-fitting bra — but the doctor felt another, more worrying lump.” After a scan and mammogram Elizabeth underwent an operation to remove the pre-cancerous lump. “It was in the very early stages but we were told we wouldn’t know until after they operated if it had spread to the lymph nodes. Caught in time “Thankfully they caught it just in time. It was a dreadful time for my family and a horrible experience to see my dad looking so worried and my mum trying to be strong.” Two years later Andrea, who was seven months pregnant with her son Finlay, felt a lump. “When you’re pregnant your body changes so I wasn’t that worried. “But I’d heard of women who’d ignored lumps during pregnancy and were diagnosed with breast cancer so I was cautious, especially after what happened to Mum. “I was sent for an ultrasound. It’s weird, you’re pregnant so everyone assumes you’re there to check the baby but actually I was having under my arm looked at to make sure I didn’t have cancer. “Mum came with me when I went to get my results. Thankfully it was fine but the weeks of waiting were horrible.” Andrea, who made her name as the GMTV weathergirl before going on to host ITV’s Loose Women three years ago, said her mum’s case reinforces the importance of being breast aware. “Last week we had Martina Navratilova, who was diagnosed with breast cancer this year, on the show — she hit the nail on the head when she said if you received a letter saying your dog needed injections you’d whisk him to the vet right away but when you get a note telling you to go for a check-up so many of us say, ‘I’ll do it later’. Busy working “Martina was busy working and four years went by. She’s kicking herself thinking, ‘if only I’d got it done when I should have’. “This hit home because I’m always saying, ‘I’ll do it tomorrow’. “Life’s busy, especially if you’re a mum. You don’t think about yourself as you’re often too busy keeping your head above water — but the way I see it is you have a responsibility to your family. “Get out the shower, have a little prod around, take a sigh of relief and get on with your day. “I would say more women than not have had a scare.” She says her own experience, and having friends who’ve been diagnosed with the disease, has made her appreciate the value of Breast Cancer Care. “I think the only way you can talk about any charity or illness is if you understand its effects. They’re a lovely group of people who are very honest and helpful,” says Andrea, who’ll be walking 10 miles on May 8 in the Pink Ribbonwalk at Petworth House, West Sussex. “Petworth isn’t far from where I live in Surrey so there’s no excuse not to do it. My sister has done it before and I’ve been there to cheer her on. “I said I’d do 10 miles so it would give me time to start the walk and greet people at the end but really it’s because 20 miles would kill me!” she jokes. Trinidad Born in Glasgow, Andrea grew up in Trinidad and Tobago where her father worked for Tate and Lyle. “I was born while my parents were home on leave. We lived in Trinidad for 13 years before moving to England when I was 15. I loved my time in Trinidad, there was a real innocence about it.” It’s Andrea who’s now known for her innocence — she’s nicknamed Snow White by her Loose Women colleagues. “They were talking about things they’d been up to and I’d never heard half the stuff they were coming out with. Coleen (Nolan) said I was like Snow White and it stuck. “I’ve had quite a sheltered love life compared to them so I can sit and listen to some of the best gossip in the world. “I don’t have to join in because I don’t have those kind of stories to tell. I’ve learned a lot — but nothing I’ve put into practice! “You’re not boring just because you were lucky enough to find love early in life.” Andrea met her first husband, BBC producer Nick Green, at school in Chester but after 17 years together the couple divorced. She’s now married to Steve Toms, a builder, who she met while presenting Our House in 2004. Feisty Mum to Finlay (8) and Amy (3) Andrea’s enjoying life as a Loose Woman. “I skip into work every day,” she laughs. “Although it took me a while to settle in. Amy was just 12 weeks old when I started and I was still working at GMTV so I barely remember my first year. “The girls are feisty. There are some days I need a whip, it’s like being in a circus and I’m the ringmaster. “Dad’s seen it a couple of times and he asked, ‘do women really talk like that? You sound like men down the pub’ but we’re just normal people discussing things. “We get defensive when people call us man-haters because that’s not what we’re about. We’ll happily stand up for any man who deserves it. “Male guests often look scared, especially ones who are normally quite cocky. Men who can handle themselves, like Ricky Gervais, are fabulous.” Andrea films Loose Women three days a week leaving her time to concentrate on writing and being a mum. “I feel settled at last. We moved a lot when I was young and, although I enjoyed my childhood, I was constantly the new girl.” Andrea tells me she’s going out to an Elvis night later at her local curry house with other mums from Finlay’s school and hopes to get them involved with the Pink Ribbonwalk, either sponsoring her or walking with her. She laughs, “I haven’t done any training yet, but I walk our labradoodle, Jackson a few miles every day so I figure it’s just a longer version of that. “I haven’t had a medal since I was seven so this could be a hugely exciting moment for me!”
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