In recent years, Loose Women favourite Janet Street-Porter has faced many health setbacks from cancer, to shingles, and now, she is leaving the ITV programme ahead of her hip surgery
Loose Women legend Janet Street-Porter confirmed today that she is taking a lengthy break from the chat show – much to the dismay of hundreds of ITV viewers.
The broadcaster, 77, is renowned for her role as a panellist on ITV’s flagship daytime programme. During Wednesday’s episode Janet was back on our TV screens alongside co-star Coleen Nolan, Christine Lampard and Katie Piper. Just minutes into the show, Christine announced that it was her colleagues “last day for a little while” as she prepares to undergo a hip replacement on Friday.
Janet said that she was very apprehensive about the surgery as she admitted that she can’t think about anything else and is ‘shaking and shivering’. The Loose Women favourite opened up: “On Friday, I am heading off to have a hip replacement operation at last and I can’t think about anything else.”
She continued: “As I’m sitting here, I’m shaking and shivering and I keep dreaming about it. I keep thinking ‘what if they can’t get it back together’. I am going on Friday, I’ll have the operation Friday afternoon, stay in hospital for a few days then I’ll really work on it at rehab so I can come back as soon as possible.”
The outspoken TV star then fought back tears as she admitted: “I am vulnerable and you know what it’s my own fault because they told me in March to have it done but I delayed it but then at the weekend I have some vegetables delivered and even though I shouldn’t I was on all fours planting them.”
“I woke up on Sunday morning and I couldn’t move and now I’ve really messed up the other side of my back and I had to lie-down for two days. I realised that I let myself get too weak and I’ve never been like this in my life and it’s just so irritating.”
As Janet prepares to take a lengthy break from Loose Women to have her surgery and recover, this isn’t the first time she has dealt with health struggles.
Back in 2020, Janet was diagnosed with cancer. She was diagnosed following self-referral, having returned home from a holiday in Australia and she initially thought she had a mosquito bite on her nose. At the time, the journalist said: “I was glad that I had done it because I could not put up with the waiting list, and the idea that I might have to wait months.”
At the time, she added: “At the moment, everybody wants results, and you can’t really blame them. They’ve been through Covid. And when I was diagnosed, oh, this thing on my face isn’t just any old spot. It’s a basal cell carcinoma. I mean, I wanted it got rid of.”
Following her surgery in 2020, Janet made a full recovery, and at the time she urged Loose Women viewers to keep an eye on any changes and blemishes on their skin. “I want to say to everybody watching, do look at all the little blemishes on your skin and especially moles if they change size or shape or anything,” she said. “I always did, I was always really careful, I always put factor 50 on my face. It can happen to so many people.”
After recovering from cancer, Janet opened up about another health scare in October 2023 when she told Loose Women viewers to check if they’re eligible for the shingles vaccine after suffering from the debilitating illness.
The Loose Women presenter revealed she was sent home from the ITV show after an outbreak of the virus in 2012, but Janet explained she first suffered with the illness while in her 40s and the presenter admitted she didn’t realise she had the virus at first. The journalist recalled noticing a rash on her body, which she believed was an eczema flare-up.
Janet was subsequently diagnosed with shingles and recalled two other women at her place of work also coming down with the virus at the same time, adding: “I was very stressed at the time and that tells you what you need to know about the workplace.” Stress can be a factor which can trigger the virus and you cannot give shingles to other people, although other people can catch chickenpox from you if they haven’t had it before.
Issuing a heartfelt plea to viewers, Janet said: “I would say to people at home if you’re eligible in either of those categories, you’re over 65 after September 1st or you’re aged between 70 and 79, which I am, for goodness sake go and get the shingles vaccine because you certainly do not want to run the risk of getting it.
“And there’s a single website [getshinglesready.co.uk] so go on the shingles website and see if you are eligible because one of the debilitating side effects is the nerve pain. The scabs will go, you won’t be like a tree trunk that snaps in half, but the scabs could be down your face, it would be a ghastly experience and could affect your eyes.”
For more information or support about cancer, you can contact Macmillan Cancer Support or you can call 020 7940 1760 for advice.
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