Michelle Heaton revealed her upset on today’s episode of Lorraine after finding out she has a high chance of developing breast cancer in the future.
The reality television star was diagnosed with the BRCA2 gene which means she has an 80 per cent chance of developing breast cancer and a 30 per cent chance of developing ovarian cancer.
However, Michelle said that she feels extremely guilty that her daughter Faith has a 50 per cent chance of inheriting the mutated gene.
“A major part for me finding out that I had the gene was the guilt of possibly passing it on to Faith.
Michelle appeared on this morning’s Lorraine
“She now has a 50 per cent chance of inheriting the gene from me, so I believe when she’s 18 she will be legal to be genetically tested.”
The former Liberty X singer may have to undergo a double mastectomy and have her ovaries removed in the future to lower her chances of developing cancer.
However, Michelle said she is struggling with the decision.
“I think what’s difficult is timing it right. The double mastectomy not so much because obviously that’s not going to affect me having children and hormonally.
“But getting my ovaries removed is going to onset menopause and I won’t be allowed to have children anymore.’
“It’s really difficult to say how you feel when you get told something like that because when you look at your husband and he’s getting clearly upset, and then you look at your little baby who’s laughing and giggling and she’s not aware of anything, you just feel things crumbling around you,” she told ITV’s Lorraine.
“I kind of feel lucky that I’ve found out now rather than pre-Faith, because I think had I found out this information before having Faith, maybe the pressure would have been too great to conceive as quickly as I had have done.
Michelle Heaton pictured with her baby Faith who has a 50% chance of inheriting BRCA2
“Obviously we don’t know, but I’m absolutely fortunate that I’ve got one gorgeous child, and if that’s the only one that I have then I’m fortunate, but of course I’d love more.”
The reality television star said if anything was to happen to her she hopes her husband would find somebody to be a good mother figure to Faith.
“If I go, will he find somebody else? And I know it’s an awful thing to think, but the last thing that you want to do is have your little baby without a mum.
“So I almost give my husband permission to find somebody else if anything ever happens to me because I’d want her to have a mum,” she finished.
