ITV's Hannah Hawkins diagnosed with terminal cancer just two days before welcoming baby boy
Morning talk-show host Lorraine Kelly has today opened up on her heartbreak, revealing that her ITV colleague, Hannah Hawkins, had been diagnosed with cancer.
Taking to Instagram today, the Scottish ITV presenter, 63, sent her love out to producer Hannah, 25, and her husband Tom.
Sharing a photo of talented youngster - holding her newborn little boy in her arms - Lorraine wrote: "This is Hannah. She’s a much loved part of our @lorraine team and recently gave birth to her gorgeous son Rory.
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"Amidst the joy of his arrival was the devastation of the return of her cancer. We are all deeply saddened and sending our love to Hannah’s family - and to her husband Tom who posted this last night."
Having posted the same photo, Tom had written on the social media app earlier: "Just wanted to say we are truly overwhelmed by the love and well wishes we’ve received over recent weeks and completely blown away by the generosity shown towards the just giving fund for Rory.
"Therefore I felt it only fair to share that Hannah’s condition has continued to deteriorate to the point where, amongst other things, she’s not able to use her phone anymore. I am trying to keep an eye on her messages so even though you won’t get a reply please know I am passing on your support and it is hugely appreciated."
He added: "Hannah has always wanted to be open about her condition and raise awareness along the way, as those who followed her journey through her first diagnosis 3 years ago will know.
"It had been her intention to keep writing and posting about her progress this time around, however the speed and aggression of the cancer has left her unable to.
"There are no words to describe events of the last couple of months, and we know the time we have left is short but the support we have had from everyone has been an enormous comfort.
"Thank you all - Tom x", he ended the emotional post.
Hannah - who joined Lorraine in September 2022 - had been diagnosed with Triple-negative breast cancer back in 2020.
She documented her health battle on social media during the Covid-19 lockdowns, having had to undergo one round of IVF and 23 rounds of chemo.
Hannah was later declared cancer free, however, that joy was tragically short-lived as just two days before giving birth to her baby Rory in August, she was dealt the wrenching news that her cancer had returned.
"Well. This is certainly not where I planned spending maternity leave, where’s the coffee shops & rhyme time?" she wrote on Instagram last month.
"2 days before our sleep thief Rory was born we were told the worse news you’ll ever hear. It’s back & it’s back with a vengeance. It wants the last laugh."
Hannah continued later in the heartfelt post: "Today is my 3rd bag of poison (chemo) & I’ve had a dash of immunotherapy (a small win in all this that I qualified for it) so far. I feel… Well I have no choice but to feel optimistic.
"We are doing what we need to do to stop these tumours in their tracks, we’re taking the little control we have, that’s all we can do. That & pray to all gods that it’s working.
"It’s hard to know what’s newborn exhaustion or chemo but I’m doing ok."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week .
Topics: Health, ITV, Instagram, Lorraine, Science, TV And Film, Social media
Rhianna Benson