The presenter, 59, opened up on the moment Lorraine producer Helen Addis told her and the team she had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer last year. Lorraine Kelly, who regularly promotes breast-awareness on her show, said “grave importance” of such discussions “really hit home” when Helen told them about the diagnosis. “We are a close-knit team on and off air and her news completely floored us,” she told the Mail on Sunday. “I hate to say it, but I thought, ‘Why her?’”
Lorraine added: “Helen simply says, ‘Why not me?’”
Helen is a mother-of-three, the ITV favourite said, revealing the producer never smoked, “barely touched alcohol” and was slim and fit.
Helen also spoke out about her experience of receiving the diagnosis, telling the publication: “Being told you have cancer, it’s life-changing.
“And I knew I had the most aggressive type, which was likely to travel around the body.
“I have three kids, and I was supposed to be back on the show the next morning,” she said.
“I just thought, ‘Is this going to take me?’”
“Of course, when Helen broke the news to us, we were just as worried,” Lorraine added.
In the year since her diagnosis, Helen has undergone a mastectomy, surgery to remove lymph nodes from under her arms, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Lorraine said they are hoping the tumours don’t return, and that her friend is currently having further drug treatment in order to try to ensure they don’t.
“At present, though, her treatment has been tough but successful,” she said.
“I’m so proud of her. We hope we’ve seen the back of her cancer.”
Glasgow-born Lorraine started her TV career at Scotland Correspondent for TV-am in the mid-80s and became one of the main presenters on Good Morning Britain in 1990.
She played an integral part in launching GMTV and later got her own slot with Lorraine Live.
Since 2010, her solo programme has been called Lorraine and has seen her cover topical stories, interview celebrities and often give coverage to issues surrounding women’s health.
The presenter married cameraman Steve Smith in 1992.
The couple are parents to one daughter, Rosie.
Lorraine airs weekdays at 8.30am on ITV.
