Kirsty Gallacher Shares Poignant Health Update on “Very Fast-Growing” Brain Tumour
In a candid and deeply emotional revelation, beloved television presenter Kirsty Gallacher has shared a profound update on her ongoing battle with a brain tumour. For years, she has been a familiar and vibrant face on our screens, most notably as a stalwart of Sky Sports. However, behind the glamorous television appearances, she has been quietly fighting an acoustic neuroma—a benign but debilitating tumour located in the inner canal of her right ear. Now, she is opening up about her gruelling journey, the challenges of profound hearing loss, and the looming uncertainty of whether her recent medical interventions will be successful.
The 50-year-old broadcaster originally received her diagnosis in the summer of 2021, an event she described as a “medical emergency.” The alarming symptoms began seemingly out of the blue. “A couple of years ago, I literally woke up and I couldn’t really hear out of my right ear and I thought, ‘Oh, that’s a bit odd’,” Gallacher recounted during an appearance on Loose Women. Initially attributing the sudden deafness to a recent flight, she soon discovered the reality was far more severe. The diagnosis of an acoustic neuroma thrust her into a complex and frightening medical reality, fundamentally altering her daily life.
Since that pivotal moment, Gallacher has faced significant challenges, primarily the severe hearing loss in her right ear and an increasingly distressing battle with tinnitus. The constant ringing in her ears, coupled with the inability to hear properly, has understandably taken an emotional toll. During a recent and revealing interview on the Vanessa show, she confided to host Vanessa Feltz that her condition has worsened. “It’s hard, I’m very hard of hearing now in my right ear, and the tinnitus is far worse than it was sadly when I was here a year ago,” she confessed, highlighting the progressive nature of her symptoms despite the tumour being classified as benign.
The impact of this acoustic neuroma extends far beyond medical appointments; it deeply affects her social life and emotional well-being. Gallacher spoke vulnerably about the difficulties of navigating noisy environments. “I do find it upsetting and I sympathise… it’s management and sometimes if I’m in an acoustically difficult environment, say I was out for dinner last night, noisy environment, I have to leave sometimes. I get really upset,” she shared. The sheer inability to engage in conversations in bustling settings forces her to rely on lip-reading, a constant reminder of the sensory loss she is enduring. “I can’t cope with it because I can’t hear anyone… I now look at people’s lips because my hearing loss is pretty bad in my right ear.”
Despite the escalating difficulties, Gallacher has remained resolute in her approach to treatment, although options are fraught with risk. She has previously been advised that surgical removal of the tumour would be “very dangerous,” leading her medical team to explore alternative avenues. To try and control the growth, she underwent radiotherapy last year. The primary goal of this targeted treatment was not to eradicate the tumour entirely—which she acknowledges is highly unlikely—but to halt its rapid expansion.
“The success rate’s very good, it’s not going to get rid of it,” she explained regarding the radiotherapy. “It’s whether it shrinks it and sort of kills the DNA that keeps making it grow, really.” The wait for results is now the defining challenge. Gallacher is scheduled for a crucial MRI scan soon, a diagnostic milestone that will determine the efficacy of the radiotherapy. This upcoming scan represents a pivotal moment in her health journey, one that carries immense weight and anxiety. “I had radiotherapy last year, so I’ve got my MRI coming up soon where we’ll know whether it’s worked,” she told Feltz.
The emotional strain of managing this condition while maintaining her public persona and family life is palpable. Last year, the immense pressure culminated in a deeply moving public breakdown. After receiving a six-month driving ban for a speeding offence, a tearful Gallacher read a statement that laid bare the profound stress she has been operating under. Through her tears, she revealed the aggressive nature of her supposedly benign condition: “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.”
She articulated the agonizing uncertainty of her situation, describing it as a “‘suck it and see’ situation.” The relentless cycle of medical appointments, the physical toll of treatment, and the persistent fear of the unknown paint a stark picture of a woman fighting a formidable battle. “I have lots of appointments. I took a week off to undergo my first session last week,” she stated. The reality of balancing this intensive medical regime with her daily responsibilities is a heavy burden. “I have to go for regular appointments with a view to more radiotherapy or possibly an operation. I’m an ordinary mum with plates spinning. With my health, it’s going to be very difficult.”
Even amidst this turmoil, Gallacher demonstrates a remarkable, albeit weary, resilience. While medical professionals have suggested a hearing aid to help manage her severe hearing loss, she has thus far declined. “I’m not there yet, I don’t think. I’m managing it fine,” she asserted, perhaps clinging to a sense of normalcy in a situation that is anything but normal.
As Kirsty Gallacher awaits her upcoming MRI, her story resonates deeply with anyone facing a chronic, unpredictable health crisis. Her bravery in sharing the unvarnished reality of living with a fast-growing brain tumour, the profound isolation of sudden hearing loss, and the emotional weight of uncertain treatments provides a powerful testament to her strength. Her fans and the public alike will undoubtedly be sending her their warmest thoughts as she faces this next critical juncture in her journey, hoping that the scan brings positive news and a reprieve from the relentless anxiety she has so courageously articulated.
