COUNTRYFILE star Julia Bradbury has opened up about the big life changes she has put in place since facing cancer.
The TV presenter, 54, says she was prompted to make major adjustments after ‘death looked her in the eyes’.
Julia had a single mastectomy in 2021 following the discovery of a tumour in her breast and she is now following a very healthy path.
In a new interview with The Times, Julia has admitted she has given up alcohol and gone teetotal.
The star, who still has regular tests but has been given the all-clear, is also making sure she enjoys time in the great outdoors every day.
Julia told the publication: “I wasn’t close to death, but death looked me in the eyes.
“So I am more focused on my health than I ever have been. I don’t drink, I eat a healthy diet and exercise every day.”
The presenter added: “When I came home from my mastectomy, I promised I would spend time outside every day, and that is my mantra, however poor it might be in this sh***y winter.”
Julia found a lump in her breast in 2020, however she has since told The Sun that her tumour was missed three times.
“My dense breast tissue masked the cancerous mass on the scans and made the tumour more difficult to find,” she said, earlier this year.
“On a mammogram, dense breast tissue appears as a solid white area, which makes it difficult to see through.”
After finally receiving a diagnosis, Julia went on to have an operation to remove her breast, a 6cm tumour and two lymph glands, followed by a reconstruction.
In December 2023, Julia bared all in ITV’s The Real Full Monty to raise awareness of cancer.
The star has three children – Zephyrus, 12, and Xanthe and Zena, both nine – and later went on to say in February this year: “We didn’t talk about death.
“I wanted to stay alive and see them grow up. I’m relieved to say that I’m now in remission.”
Fans of Julia will know that she has been staying true to her word about her life changes.
The star regularly shares videos of herself in the great outdoors, urging others to do the same, while also posting health tips for her followers on Instagram.
She has even shared her humming mantra which helps her to destress, along with the exact position she sits in on the toilet to avoid constipation.
On Christmas Day, Julia filmed herself as she took an early morning swim at a very chilly outdoor lido.
Wearing an orange swimsuit with long sleeves, Julia said: “I’ve warmed up, it’s about seven degrees and it’s going to be absolutely fine.”
Julia then repeated the mantra “we can do hard things” as she climbed into the water and began to swim.
Replying, one impressed follower told her: “Good on you Julia.”
Another added: “Happy Christmas Julia. You are my inspiration xxx.”
And a third wrote: “You continue to amaze and inspire me!”
