TELEVISION personality Kerri-Anne Kennerley is fighting breast cancer, New Idea reports.
The 58-year-old star has told the magazine she discovered a small tumour "no bigger than a pea" just seven days ago.
But she says she owes the discovery of the lump - and her life - to her stint on Seven's reality show, Dancing With The Stars.
Kennerley found the lump on her breast while sewing extra bling on her beaded bra, just prior to performing her Marilyn Monroe-inspired routine on the prime-time program.
"If it hadn't been for that, I might never have noticed the lump," she told New Idea.
"It's a funny thing - the doctor told me if I hadn't lost 8kg on DWTS, and if I hadn't been fiddle-faddling with that beaded bra, i might not have realised there was anything wrong for months."
"I guess you could say DWTS may have saved my life".
While Kennerley, who lives in Sydney with her husband of 28 years, says it is too early to know exactly what type of treatment she'll need, doctors have told her radiotherapy is "a given" and at least part of her breast must be removed.
But the television star has vowed that the show must go on, and has decided to delay her surgery for five days so she can compete in the grand finale of DWTS.
In the raw and moving interview the doyenne of television said she didn't have any of the risk factors.
"That’s why I thought it could never happen to me. I’ve always looked after myself, but here I am," she said.
"That’s why I thought it could never happen to me. I’ve always looked after myself, but here I am," she said.
Fellow Aussie media personalities have tweeted their best wishes, with Chrissie Swan and Rove McManus re-tweeting Peter Hellier’s message of support: “Kerri-Anne Kennerley has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Good luck with the road ahead KAK. You have the whole of Oz's love & support!!”
Dancing with the Stars tweeted: “We are very sad to hear that our Kerri-Anne Kennerley has has been diagnosed with breast cancer :( We wish you all the best @kerrianneken xx”
The news comes just days after announcing her yet-to-be-named prime time show on the Seven Network.
Kennerley says she went public with her story to urge all women to undergo regular mammograms.
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