Our interview with Danielle Lloyd, which comes just days after she was diagnosed with skin cancer, is an emotional one. Understandably, there are plenty of tears as the mum-of-five explains her shock and fears for the future.
She tells us tearfully, ‘When you hear that word, it is just so shocking. I felt gobsmacked, and then I felt numb. The first thing that came into my head was my kids. The worry just flooded in, and I was thinking, “Am I going to survive?” I am trying my best to stay positive, but it’s hard.’
Last summer, Danielle – mum to Archie, 14, Harry, 13, George, 11, Ronnie, seven, and Autumn, three – spotted a mole on her collarbone that was changing shape. ‘I’d never noticed it before, but I looked at old pictures and it has always been there, just very small. It was changing shape and at first I thought nothing of it, but I’ve become more cautious as I’ve got older so I decided to go to the doctor,’ she explains. ‘I was never particularly worried because every person I saw said it looked small and was most likely nothing to worry about.’
In December, she saw a specialist in the hospital, who removed the mole. She says, ‘He looked at it and said, “I’m really not sure, I think it’s OK but let’s just remove it anyway.” It felt like everything was pointing to it being all right.’
Danielle – who is married to electrician Michael O’Neill – then had an agonising nine-week wait for her biopsy results, but as so much time had passed, she thought she was clear. She says, ‘I presumed no news was good news, but then I got a call asking for me to come into the hospital the following morning. Straight away I knew something was wrong because they’re not going to call you in to tell you it’s nothing. My gut was telling me something was wrong, but I was trying to stay calm. Michael was working but he insisted his mum came with me.’
At the appointment, Danielle, 41, was told the devastating news. ‘I was trying to hold it together, but then I just broke down,’ she says. ‘I was just so shocked.’
She is now awaiting a further procedure to remove more skin and tissue from the area to send for biopsy to check if the cancer has spread to other cells. She reveals, ‘Hopefully they either removed it all before Christmas, or will get it all this time. My appointment could take up to six weeks so the waiting and the not knowing is very difficult. I did ask the nurse what would happen if it has spread, and she said, “Then we have to sit down and have a different conversation”, meaning chemotherapy.’
Danielle says Michael has been a huge support, saying, ‘He was as shocked as me, but he has been brilliant. He’s always so supportive.’
Telling the children was the hardest part. Danielle says, ‘I told the older three but not the younger two. Ronnie is at an age where he wouldn’t really understand, he’d hear that word and think I was going to die.
‘It was difficult telling the older boys, Harry asked me if my hair was going to fall out. It’s hard because they’re still young, so I don’t know if they fully understand – which is a good thing because I don’t want to put a strain on them. I joked to my eldest, “You’re not getting rid of me that easily!”’
This isn’t Danielle’s first cancer scare. In 2023, she was rushed to hospital with heavy bleeding, and doctors discovered large cysts on her ovaries. She faced an agonising wait for biopsy results but was thankfully told they were non-cancerous. Then, just last year, she found a lump in her breast which was biopsied multiple times before she was eventually given the all-clear in October. She says, ‘I’ve been through so much with my health and it has put me on edge. I’ve been thinking, “What more can life throw at me?” I have anxiety anyway, but it has been so bad recently.’
After her diagnosis, Danielle decided to post on her social media in a bid to raise awareness and encourage people to check their skin.
‘It sounds silly now, but I’ve got olive skin so I didn’t think I was at risk. But I’ve since done my research and know it can happen to anybody,’ she says. ‘I feel passionate now about raising awareness and encouraging people to check themselves.’ She says she had a wonderful response to her posts, adding, ‘It was overwhelming. I sat there and read every single message. People shared positive stories and sad ones too. And so many people said they were going to get something checked out, which means a lot to me. If it helps one person then I’ve done what I’ve set out to do.’
While she awaits a date for her second procedure, Danielle is keeping herself distracted. She says, ‘I’m always busy with the kids; cleaning the house, taking the boys to football. It’s hard not to let your mind wander, but I’m trying to stay positive.’
Danielle and Michael are occupied with their house build too – the family are currently creating their dream home in Birmingham. She adds, ‘It’s exciting, but it’s very stressful! We hope to be moved in by August, which is something to look forward to.’
Her youngest is keeping her busy too. ‘Autumn is three going on 21,’ she laughs. ‘I came back from the hospital that day and she sat next to me and said, “Mummy, you’re my best friend forever and ever –
I love you so much.” It made me emotional, she didn’t realise how much I needed it to hear it at the moment.’
She adds with a smile, ‘The kids are keeping me going – I’ll keep being the best mum I can be and stay positive.’