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Kirsty Gallacher has revealed that her brain tumour is ‘growing very fast’ in a heartbreaking update about her health

Kirsty Gallacher has revealed that her brain tumour is ‘growing very fast’ in a heartbreaking update about her health. The former Sky Sports presenter, 59, was diagnosed with a benign acoustic neuroma during the summer of 2021 and has since undergone radiotherapy.

On Wednesday, she was handed a six-month driving ban in court following a speeding offence, and then issued reporters with the news that she has no idea whether the treatment will work or not and she may have to face an operation in the future.

Speaking outside court, she tearfully explained: “I have a brain tumour – an acoustic neuroma – it is benign, but it’s growing very fast. They have monitored it for the last three years. I am now doing radiotherapy.

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Kirsty has also been keeping followers updated on social mieda(Image: Instagram)

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Kirsty admitted she has ‘no idea’ if the treatment will work(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for BGC Group)

READ MORE: ‘Broken’ Kirsty Gallacher bursts into tears in court as she faces driving banREAD MORE: Ex-Sky Sports host Kirsty Gallacher ‘kicked like a football’ in vile unprovoked attack

“We don’t know if the radiotherapy is going to work, if it will shrink [the tumour] or not. It’s a bit of a ‘suck it and see’ situation. I have lots of appointments. I took a week off to undergo my first session last week. I have to go for regular appointments with a view to more radiotherapy or possibly an operation.”

The former Strictly Come Dancing star, who was previously married to rugby player Paul Samson and has two sons with him, added: “I’m an ordinary mum with plates spinning. With my health, it’s going to be very difficult.” She explained that police believe an assault on her two weeks ago while she was in Central London was a “targeted attack.” Kirsty, 49, was caught speeding, doing 35mph in a 30 zone in Maiden’s Green, Berkshire, on April 1 this year, shortly after 8am.

During the emotional hearing at High Wycombe magistrates’ court, Kirsty, had attempted to apply for a driving ban exemption under mitigating circumstances. She already had nine points when she was caught in her 2020 plate Mercedes by a manned camera on a residential road. Ms Gallacher had previously pleaded guilty.

I’m their sole carer and provider, financially,” she told the court of her children, aged 18 and 15, adding: “We live in the middle of the countryside. We’re in the middle of nowhere. I take my son to school every morning. I enjoy doing that. Public transport is not a feasible option.”

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The TV star is best known for her coverage of live sporting events but has also appeared on Saturday Night Takeaway and Strictly Come Dancing over the course of her career

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She went on to say a ban would not be fair on her younger child due to personal circumstances, adding that public transport wasn’t “feasible” where she and her family live. Gallacher, who explained she earned £150,000 per annum, said she had “no savings” and couldn’t afford to pay for a private driver or taxis.

She stated that her son may be forced to miss out on extracurricular activities, including golf and rugby, if she were banned from driving. “I have a brain tumour – an acoustic neuroma – it is benign, but it’s growing very fast,” she told the court, adding that it had been monitored for three years and she was now having radiotherapy treatment.

However, she explained that medical staff were unsure as to whether the treatment would work or if the tumour would shrink. Earlier this year, the TV star explained during an appearance on Loose Women that she was ‘really nervous’ about her treatment but noted it was the best hope she had in the situation.

She said: “It took a while for them to work out what was going on but it’s called an acoustic neuroma. Mine is in the inner-ear canal, right in there, and it’s very dangerous so it’s basically inoperable. It’s not always inoperable. I’m having radiotherapy in November. I’m really nervous. It’s growing, sadly and it’s dangerous because it’s right by the brain.

“We hope that it might do the job, zap it. I’m very lucky that it’s benign but it’s the only way to manage it.”