Julia Bradbury has refined her lifestyle to maximize her longevity five years after a breast cancer diagnosis at age 51. The Countryfile presenter, a mother of three, faced a life-altering moment when doctors identified a six-centimeter tumor in her left breast.
Overcoming the Diagnosis
Bradbury describes the period as terrifying and deeply emotional. ‘I was terrified and sad, it was a very emotionally upsetting time,’ she recalls. ‘It must have been very, very difficult for my family. I was in the eye of the storm and changed overnight to become the person I needed to get through this.’
She underwent a mastectomy without requiring chemotherapy. This procedure sparked immediate shifts in her habits, including eliminating meat and sugar from her diet to build strength for recovery.
‘I thought, right, I need to get stronger for this,’ she says. ‘I knew after the operation I needed to move and walk as quickly as possible in order to heal. Getting blood pumping around a wound area is very, very important and your heart health also comes under attack when you have anaesthetics.’
Diet and Exercise Transformations
Her pre-diagnosis routine relied on convenience foods like cheap sandwiches, sweets, and fast food from petrol stations and airports due to her filming schedule. Despite staying slim, she consumed excessive sugar without weight gain as a warning sign.
Meat has returned to her diet, but only in organic, high-quality forms. Bradbury now prioritizes regular exercise, outdoor walks, and consistent sleep to remain healthy and present for her children: 14-year-old son Zephyr and 11-year-old twin daughters Xanthe and Zena.
Reflecting on her younger self, who felt invincible, she wishes she had adopted these practices earlier.
Advocacy for Genetic Testing
Bradbury champions polygenic risk score (PRS) and SNP testing on the NHS. She underwent a PRS test guided by experts, which revealed a slightly elevated genetic risk for recurrence.
‘When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, it changed my life. But it also made me ask more questions about why it happened—and what I could do to reduce the risk of it coming back,’ she shares. ‘That’s why I took a polygenic risk score (PRS) test… It’s a genetic test that looks at small variations (called SNPs) across your DNA to help assess your personal risk of developing breast cancer—or, in my case, a recurrence.’
‘Knowing that helped me and my medical team make more informed decisions about treatment, ongoing monitoring, and lifestyle changes. It’s given me peace of mind, and a plan.’
She urges wider access to such tests for preventive care. ‘I truly believe this kind of testing could save lives… If I had known I was at a higher risk of breast cancer, perhaps I would have proceeded differently when I first discovered my lump, in my 50s. We need to move towards preventative care, not just reactive care.’
