Breast cancer warning signs as CBB's Trisha Goddard shares stage 4 update

Trisha Goddard has sparked a conversation across the UK as she urges more women to check their breasts. The 67-year-old hopes appearing on ITV's Celebrity Big Brother will convey her message and raise more awareness.

The broadcaster and chat show host made no secret of her diagnosis when talking to celebrity housemates as she joined the latest reality TV show series. In a conversation with housemate Mickey Rourke, she explained how she's living with stage four cancer, and there's no cure.

She said: "It was breast cancer, and it metastasised, but so far, so good. I’ve got a really good team in Connecticut that looks after me." The chat show host revealed she gets treatment every three weeks, which includes chemotherapy, but praised her husband, who is looking after her, calling him "a really good guy".

The mum-of-two will continue to receive her treatment while participating in the latest series of Big Brother. It was confirmed that talks were held between ITV and her medical team to arrange specialised care provisions tailored to her needs.

Trisha has previously battled and beaten breast cancer in 2008. But, in February 2024, the TV star announced that her cancer - also known as metastatic or stage 4 breast cancer - had returned and it was terminal.

According to Cancer Research UK, the stage of a cancer tells you how big it is and whether it has spread. It helps your doctor decide which treatment you need.

A stage 4 breast cancer will be one that has spread to another part of the body. It is also called advanced cancer or secondary breast cancer.

Stage 4 breast cancer is unlikely to be cured. However, treatment can often keep the cancer under control for many months or years.

Metastatic cancer is a term used to describe a cancer which has spread from one part of the body to another. For example, if breast cancer spreads to the bone, the cancer in the bone is still considered metastatic breast cancer, not bone cancer. While metastatic cancer cannot be cured, it can often be managed with treatment, which may involve long-term therapies.

Breast cancer most commonly starts in the cells that line the milk ducts of the breast. It is the most common cancer in the UK. It mainly affects women, but men can get it, too.

Around 56,400 women and around 390 men are diagnosed in the UK each year. Breast cancer risk can be affected by age, family history and lifestyle factors such as obesity and smoking.

Breast symptoms to look out for:

• a new lump or thickening in your breast or armpit
• a change in size, shape or feel of your breast
• skin changes in the breast such as puckering, dimpling, a rash or redness of the skin
• fluid leaking from the nipple in a woman who isn’t pregnant or breastfeeding
• changes in the position of the nipple

Cancer Research goes into more detail about each symptom on its website. You can go through them in full here.

It is important always to get a breast lump checked by your GP. They will arrange for you to have tests to find out whether your lump is cancer or not.