This Morning star Dr Philippa Kaye has given fans an emotional update on her health after having a hysterectomy.
The GP and author, who regularly features on the ITV daytime show, underwent surgery following a “cancer risk” last month.
The 46-year-old has now revealed the procedure was “successful” but that she has “ongoing bowel and other issues” and is “tired” of the health complications.
Kaye, who is known for her work in women's, children's, and sexual health, shared several selfies on Instagram and wrote: “As ever...cancer and post cancer is complicated.
“I know so many of you (and me) want everything to be done. But the truth is more complicated.
“The surgery was successful but there are ongoing bowel and other issues.”
She added: “Now we have to work out what might still improve and what I might be left with forever and how to manage that.
“I am so tired of it all.”
Last month, Kaye reflected on the devastating emotional impact of having her uterus removed and feeling like “less of a woman”.
Speaking after her surgery, she penned: “Thoughts I have about my hysterectomy that do and don't make sense.
“Intellectually I understand: It was causing problems and pain. I was not planning to have further pregnancies. So it wasn't serving a purpose, was hurting and was a cancer risk.
“Emotionally though… it was part of me, it housed my babies, cancer forced me to make this decision, otherwise it would still be there.”
Kaye continued: “And the ones I know don't make sense but are still here… Am I somehow less of a woman without my womb and ovaries? I know this is not true.
“Sometimes you can know something in one part of your brain and feel something else in another. It is why feelings are hard!”
She captioned the Instagram post: “Post op thoughts don't always make practical, intellectual sense.”
Kaye announced in January that she was having surgery, but did not share the details at the time.
“When the day of the surgery arrives, the time for worry is over. No more questions or concerns,” she wrote.
“You put your big girl pants on. You trust in your team and you let go. See you on the other side.”
The doctor was diagnosed with stage two bowel cancer aged just 39 back in 2019.
She was given the all clear in 2020 after six months of chemotherapy and a 12-hour surgery to remove a final cancer lesion.
Kaye said on This Morning at the time: “For the first time in nearly 18 months I am able to say that I am cancer free, that is huge, and I am hugely excited to be out of my day pyjamas to speak to you!”
She revealed that she still needed to attend yearly check-ins despite the good news.
“Mine was found to be related to a genetic mutation which doubles my risk of bowel cancer,” she wrote in a 2024 piece for The Sun.
“Even though my latest scans and colonoscopy last August were clear, I will continue to have to be assessed annually, because although my cancer was treated, my genes remain and my risk is still double the general population.”
