Michaela Strachan has opened up on the tragic death of her best friend, who died 10 years after her own shock diagnosis. The 57 year old animal lover, lives happily in South Africa with her partner Nick Chevallier - a wildlife director and cameraman - and their 18 year old son, Nick.
But in 2014, Michaela’s world was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy, at 48 years old.
Speaking exclusively to OK!, Michaela said: “Someone had to remind me of this, but it's 10 years since I had my cancer scare.They said, ‘are you going to celebrate?’ And I suddenly thought, ‘oh my God, I should!’ Stupidly enough I hadn't thought about it because I actually forget that I've had cancer.” The recent loss of her best friend and fellow Really Wild Show colleague Lucy Bowden is a poignant reminder of the disease. “Every so often I'm reminded that a lot of my friends are suffering with cancer. “My friend passed away last September.
You get reminded when you're faced with it like that, but on a day to day basis I forget I've had cancer.” The pair were diagnosed at the same time but tragically, Lucy's fate didn't end in the same way Michaela's has. "She had the same prognosis and had a single mastectomy and Tamoxifen.