Former MP reveals breast cancer diagnosis

The former MP for Chelmsford, Vicky Ford, has revealed she has breast cancer.

In a post on social media, she said she had been diagnosed after a routine mammogram between Christmas and New Year.

Ms Ford said she had been booked in for surgery in a few weeks' time to remove the lump and may require radiotherapy afterwards.

"It's a bit of a shock, but I'm not going to let this frighten me," Ms Ford told the BBC.

Ms Ford - the Conservative MP for Chelmsford from 2017 to 2024 - said the news of her diagnosis "could not have been delivered in a kinder, calmer or more reassuring way".

"The word cancer is a word that feels really frightening," Ms Ford told BBC Essex.

"I really don't want to be frightened by this. I want to stay positive."

Ms Ford said that the lump was too small for her to feel, and she was "so grateful" that it was detected on the mammogram.

The former children's minister said she chose to go public with the news after struggling to answer the question "how are you?".

She added: "I found it really hard to respond because although I feel fine - and I'm fitter and healthier physically than I think I've been for ages - obviously I'm not fine because I do have cancer, but I'm going to beat this."

"I am hopeful that it will all be over, done and dusted before spring is out," she added.

Ms Ford, who was an MEP for the East of England for eight years before becoming an MP, urged people to attend routine mammograms or other cancer screenings.

"I've flown through so many different cancer screens over the years," she said.

"I didn't pass this one, but I am so glad I did it because it means they found it early, and that gives us the best chance of fighting it."

Thanking the medical team who have cared for her, Ms Ford said 2025 was going to be "a good year".

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