ITV Loose Women's Penny Lancaster tearfully discusses sister-in-law's cancer struggle

Penny Lancaster was overcome with emotion on Thursday's Loose Women as she shared her family's cancer battle, urging viewers to check themselves regularly

Loose Women's Penny Lancaster was overwhelmed with emotion as she opened up about her sister-in-law Louise's battle with cancer. The 53-year-old TV star was back on the familiar Loose Women set with co-panellists Charlene White, Frankie Bridge and Nadia Sawalha.

As the topic of breast cancer came up, particularly about the importance of self-checks, Penny recounted the painful period when her brother's wife was diagnosed. She shared how she was hit with the news of Louise's illness at a time when she had just learned that she was expecting.

Recalling the statistics around diagnoses, an emotional Penny said: "At the time it was one in nine that was diagnosed, and of course, it's one in seven now and we kind of sat down after the walk and said it could be one of us." The heart-wrenching revelation continued as she described the moment she found out about her pregnancy and Louise's diagnosis simultaneously: "Very shortly afterwards, it was my third IVF, I fell pregnant and I was so excited to tell them the news and they didn't want to have to tell me in that same phone call that Louise had found a lump."

Through tears, Penny went on to depict the bravery Louise displayed despite being only 36 years old, stressing the necessity for women under 50 to perform self-examinations due to NHS screening policies. The advice from breast cancer care agencies and the importance of checking were instrumental in Louise detecting the lump early, reports Gloucestershire Live.

She concluded, "Women under the age of 40, their breasts are much more dense. So it's harder to actually detect those lumps. Many people believe that breast cancer is painless, but Louise had experienced pain." She emphasised the significance of consistent self-examinations and promptly consulting with healthcare professionals.

Sharing her ordeal with the Daily Mail in 2011, Louise said: "I got up, and as I did, I suddenly realised my right breast was sore and uncomfortable." I pressed the palm of my hand flat onto my nipple, and directly behind it I felt a lump. It was like a cross between a pea and a broad bean."

Following her diagnosis of stage three breast cancer, Louise has thankfully succeeded in beating the disease.