Sarah Beeny has revealed that her initial double mastectomy “went wrong”, forcing her to undergo a full reconstruction just six months later after her implants hardened and reacted badly.
The TV presenter, 53, was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2022 and endured months of chemotherapy before having a double mastectomy. She was later given the all-clear in 2023. But in a candid new interview with Bella Magazine, she opened up about the complications that followed.
When asked whether the surgery affected her body image, Sarah admitted: “The first surgery went wrong, so I had to have everything redone six months later — the implants hardened and reacted badly.”
Despite the setback, she said she still feels fortunate, reflecting on how her mother went through cancer 40 years ago “when the surgery was far more drastic”. She added that carrying the PALB2 gene meant she opted for bilateral surgery as well as having her ovaries removed. “But I was 50 with four children, so it didn’t disrupt my life in the way it would have if I’d been younger,” she said.
Sarah’s experience is deeply shaped by her family history. Her mother died of breast cancer when Sarah was 10, after the disease spread to her brain; her stepmother also passed away from a brain tumour. Earlier this year, she became a patron of Brain Tumour Research, calling for far more investment into finding a cure.
She reflected: “I’m very lucky — I had a fortunate diagnosis. My mother won’t see her grandchildren, but she died so I can see mine.” She stressed she wants to see “the same amount of resources and effort put into curing brain tumours as has been done for breast cancer”.
Following her recovery, Sarah released the documentary Sarah Beeny vs Cancer in 2024, detailing her journey through treatment and surgery. She then underwent genetic testing, discovering she carries the PALB2 mutation. Although negative for BRCA1 and BRCA2, PALB2 gives her a 50/50 chance of passing the gene to her four sons — Billy, Charlie, Rafferty and Laurie.
Her brother tested negative, while some extended family members are now also undergoing testing. As for her children, the choice is theirs: “I gave them the control. It’s up to them what they do with it. It’s a very personal decision. I like the control — others may not want to know.”
