Davina McCall's brain tumour operation 'took six hours'

Davina McCall's brain tumour operation likely took six hours as her partner revealed the former Big Brother host is now 'exhausted'. 

The 57-year-old underwent a craniotomy yesterday to remove the 14mm wide growth following her shock diagnosis.

The TV presenter had asked people ahead of the surgery to 'pray for me' after a 'very rare' colloid cyst had been found that affects only three in a million people.

Her loving partner Michael Douglas last night shared a health update on Davina's Instagram in which he said she was 'utterly exhausted' and now recovering in the intensive care unit. 

According to the NHS, craniotomy surgery can be performed when people are either awake or under general anaesthetic and takes around four to six hours. 

The benign tumour was diagnosed by chance after Davina was offered a 'health scan' that she thought she would 'ace'. 

Davina said in a video ahead of her surgery: 'I slightly put my head in the sand for a while, I saw a few neurosurgeons, had quite a lot of opinions and realised I needed to take it out.

'It's quite big, it's 14mm wide and it needs to come out because if it grows it would be bad. I'm having it removed.'

She added: 'Say a prayer for me. I'm in good spirits.'

Michael gave an update yesterday following the surgery saying the operation had been 'textbook'. 

'She's currently recovering in ICU as a precaution, as you can imagine she's utterly exhausted,' he wrote. 

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'Thanks so much for all the love from everyone on here... it's powerful stuff, we are super grateful. Michael xx.'

Davina explained that while she was at no immediate risk, doctors were concerned that the tumour could grow larger and cause complications.

She revealed she had been feeling 'up and down' and explained she would be in hospital for at least nine days before coming home.

'I'm going to be in hospital for about nine days, and then I'm going to be going home, but I'm going to be off my phone for a while,' Davina said.

'But I don't want you to worry about me. I'm doing that enough as it is.'

While she has known of the diagnosis for a few months, Davina hasn't allowed it to slow her down and she was pictured last week enjoying a night out at Garnier's celebration hair mask party.

A colloid cyst is a slow-growing tumour typically found near the center of the brain. The benign growth contains gelatinous material.

They are often asymptomatic and found incidentally during imaging tests.

If symptoms do occur as the tumour grows, they are commonly reported to include headaches that are most severe in the morning upon waking, nausea and blurry vision, with other key signs including vertigo and double vision.

Most patients present with headaches, although other symptoms including vertigo, memory problems and double vision can occur.

If large enough, a colloid cyst obstructs the movement of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain which leads to a high risk of sudden death. 

Davina's partner Michael Douglas uploaded the video for her, captioning the post: 'Hey everyone. Michael here. She will be "off grid" for a bit while she recovers from this brain operation.

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'She is in great shape and in very good hands. I’ll do the odd update from her account here for anyone interested.

'I’m sure she’ll read all the comments when she’s able to so feel free to send love . The support of people is amazingly powerful. Have a great day everyone. Michael xxx'.

Following her announcement, celebrities including Amanda Holden, Pussycat Dolls singer Ashley Roberts and Olympic heptathlon gold medallist Dame Denise Lewis reached out to the presenter.

Amanda said: 'Sending so much love,' while former Big Brother winner Kate Lawler wrote: 'I'm in awe of your positivity Davina. Wishing you all the love and healing prayers post surgery. See you soon.'

Davina and Michael first met when he styled her hair during her time presenting Big Brother, which she worked on from 2000 until 2010.

They turned their friendship into romance during the summer of 2019.

The former Big Brother host is also known for being a fitness fanatic, and says she exercises for 'three or four times a week for a minimum of half an hour, but no more than 40 minutes because I don't have time'.

Her lean physique, frequently displayed on Instagram, had previously sparked concern among fans, with many claiming she looks emaciated, ill and underfed as a result of her dedication to personal fitness.

But Davina has dismissed suggestions that she is addicted to the gym, telling Health and Wellbeing in 2019 that she was too busy as a working mother to dedicate her life to exercising.

'Because of my busy schedule, the most I can do is three to four times a week, but the minute I retire or the kids leave home or whatever, I’d love to work out daily. I don’t see what’s wrong with it', she said.

'I’d love to do an hour every day, whether it be a walk, or a cycle, or a swim – just to keep moving.'

Rare cyst with deadly risk

A colloid cyst is a slow-growing, fluid-filled, benign tumour typically found in the centre of the brain.

They can cause symptoms including headaches, nausea and vomiting, as well as memory problems, tinnitus, behaviour change and double vision.

The majority can be removed using an endoscope, a long tubular device inserted into the brain. But in some cases cysts block the movement of cerebrospinal fluid, which can lead to raised pressure on the brain. Surgery can then involve a craniotomy, in which part of the skull is removed – to reduce the risk of death.

Colloid cysts are rare, however, accounting for fewer than 2 per cent of all primary brain tumours.