Paddy McGuinness' warning to 'terrified' ex Christine after family health struggles

Paddy McGuinness urged his then-wife Christine McGuinness to undergo essential health testing following a serious family health scare.

Paddy is set to complete an impressive 300-mile ride on a classic chopper for Children In Need today. It comes two years after the split from his wife, model and Real Housewives of Cheshire celebrity Christine.

Reflecting on her personal battles in her 2021 memoir 'A Beautiful Nightmare', Christine detailed an alarming health concern that Paddy assisted her through.

She explained her mother's bout with breast cancer implied she also had a "strong risk" of developing the condition, which led to daunting thoughts about getting tested.

In the book, Christine shared: "I need to be around for my children for as long as possible and if that meant I was required to have a double mastectomy to reduce my chances of developing cancer, I was fully prepared to do it. Actually doing the test was another story. I put off having it for so long because I was terrified what the results might be.

"But it was something my husband encouraged me to do, too. He has a history of heart problems in his family and goes for regular check-ups himself. So, reluctantly, I went and got tested.

"It was all very easy, a simple swab test, and the results were sent to my GP. I didn't tell my mum about it until after I got the results, as I didn't want to put that extra worry on her. Many weeks of anguish and worry later, I got the results. It was negative. I felt so relieved."

The NHS says breast cancer is the most common form of the disease in women in the UK and anyone can get it. Symptoms can include a lump or swelling in the breast, chest or armpit.

It may also involve a change in the skin or the size or shape of the breasts, as well as nipple discharge, changes to the appearance of the nipples, and pain in the breast or armpit.

The health service emphasised the importance of regularly checking your breasts to understand what is normal for you personally. By doing so, it means that it will be easier to spot any changes. You should also visit your GP if you have any concerns.

More information about breast cancer can be found on the NHS website here.