Former BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra film critic Rhianna Dhillon has revealed she has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, saying she had not expected to develop the disease at such a young age despite knowing she was at increased risk.
Dhillon shared the news on Instagram on Tuesday, explaining that she received her diagnosis two weeks ago and underwent surgery on Friday. She said she has had a full hysterectomy and faces around six months of chemotherapy.
The broadcaster said she already knew she carried a BRCA1 genetic mutation, which increases the risk of developing certain cancers. She had previously undergone a preventative double mastectomy, but wrote that she had believed she had considerably more time before having to contemplate further preventative treatment.
“I thought I had more time,” she wrote, adding that the hysterectomy had brought an unexpected end to a part of her life she had not been ready to say goodbye to.
Despite the diagnosis and treatment ahead, Dhillon said she intends to continue working, joking that her film awards season is likely to look “slightly different” this year.
She also thanked her family and friends for supporting her through appointments, hospital stays and difficult phone calls since her diagnosis.
Dhillon has a long association with Radio 1. She joined the station in 2011 aged 22, replacing James King as Radio 1 and 1Xtra’s resident film critic after being discovered while studying English and Film & Theatre at the University of Reading.
She quickly became familiar to listeners across the station, including through regular appearances with Scott Mills and Chris Stark. Unofficial Mills readers may particularly remember her numerous appearances on Innuendo Bingo, where she became such a regular that Scott later referred to her as the “Queen of Bingo”.
Dhillon went on to establish a wider broadcasting career as a film and television critic, including work with BBC Radio 6 Music, Radio 5 Live and BAFTA.
Ending her announcement with some characteristic humour, she said she wasn’t yet ready for “silver linings” but would happily accept wig recommendations. She also joked about being on morphine following surgery and enthusiastically greeting her surgeon as he arrived for a post-operative visit.
Our thoughts and very best wishes are with Rhianna as she begins treatment.
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