Sharon Osbourne has double mastectomy after discovering genetic defect that leaves her at greater risk of breast cancer
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Your support makes all the difference.Sharon Osbourne has revealed she underwent a double mastectomy operation to prevent her developing breast cancer.
The former X Factor judge, who battled colon cancer 10-years-ago, took the painful decision after finding out she had a genetic defect which made the chances of her developing breast cancer significantly higher.
In an interview with Hello! magazine, she said: “As soon as I found out I had the breast cancer gene, I thought: 'The odds are not in my favour'.”
The 60-year-old went on: ”I've had cancer before and I didn't want to live under that cloud: I decided to just take everything off, and had a double mastectomy.“
The operation to remove both breasts took around 13-hours, but Osbourne refuses to feel downbeat.
”It's not 'pity me': it's a decision I made that's got rid of this weight that I was carrying around.“
”For me, it wasn't a big decision, it was a no-brainer,“ she said. ”I didn't want to live the rest of my life with that shadow hanging over me. I want to be around for a long time and be a grandmother to Pearl. I didn't even think of my breasts in a nostalgic way, I just wanted to be able to live my life without that fear all the time.”
It has been exhausting year for Osbourne whose 26-year-old son Jack got married, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and became a father - all in the last 12 months. The birth of baby Pearl made Sharon a grandmother for the first time.
Prior to the double mastectomy Osbourne learned her breast implants had leaked into her stomach wall, something she claims has now put her off cosmetic surgery for life.
“Sometimes I'll see a photo and I'll think, 'My face looks plastic'; it can look so unnatural from certain angles. Now I am definitely, definitely done”.
”You can't buy your youth back, no matter how much money you've got. I won't be going under the knife again.“
The full interview is in the latest edition of Hello! magazine which is out now.
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