Michaela Strachan reveals she had a double mastectomy after breast cancer diagnosis

Television presenter Michaela Strachan has revealed she had a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

The Springwatch host said she was forced to have both breasts removed after the cancer was discovered in a mammogram at the start of the year.

She told the Mail on Sunday's You magazine: "The tears started to roll as my doctor tried to tell me what would happen next, but I only took in every fifth word or so.

"The one word that registered was 'cancer'."

Medics advised her to have a double mastectomy.

The star said: "I couldn't get my head around the fact that on Monday morning I'd been apparently healthy, by Tuesday I had cancer, and by Wednesday I was talking about a double mastectomy."

The 48-year-old, who is set to undergo reconstructive surgery, stressed her experience showed the importance of regular check-ups.

"If I'd put mine off, my story could have been a very different one," she said.

Last year, actress Angelina Jolie revealed to the world that she had undergone a double mastectomy to prevent her getting breast cancer.

She took the decision after testing positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation that greatly increases the risk of developing the disease.