'Strictly Come Dancing' Star Dr. Punam Krishan 'Shaken' After Hearing the Words 'Nobody Ever Wants to Hear'

It was a revelation that no one saw coming — and one that left fans reeling.

She's graced our screens with poise, healed patients as a GP, and danced her way into Britain's hearts — but behind closed doors, Dr Punam Krishan has been fighting a terrifying battle for her life.

The beloved "Strictly Come Dancing" star stunned fans on Sunday, 4 January, as she shared a raw and emotional update from a hospital bed, IV drips attached, her face calm but clearly marked by the storm she's weathered.

"Here goes..." she began — and what followed was a revelation no one was prepared for.

"Five months ago, I heard the words nobody ever wants to hear: You have cancer. I still find it hard to write that sentence. But it's my reality and my truth."

A Doctor Turned Patient: 'Nothing Prepares You'

For nearly two decades, Krishan had devoted her life to medicine, helping others face their darkest days — but now she found herself on the other side of the diagnosis.

"Nothing — absolutely nothing — prepares you for being on the receiving end yourself," she admitted. "The shock. The fear. The trauma. In that moment, knowledge means very little. I was diagnosed with breast cancer."

Since then, she's clung to one simple mantra: take it one day at a time.

Leaning on the NHS, her GP, and her oncology team, Krishan praised those who had helped her through the bleakest of moments — even as she confessed the journey had left her emotionally wrecked.

"It's been really hard. Much harder than I ever imagined," she said.

A Secret Struggle to Protect Her Family

Choosing to go through it in silence, Krishan kept her illness private to protect her loved ones, especially her children, from the emotional toll.

"My husband, my family and a small circle of friends have carried me through in ways I'll never forget," she continued. "When something like this happens, you realise very quickly what — and who — truly matters."

In a moment of both vulnerability and strength, she then declared:

"I've now completed treatment and I'm healing. 🙏🏽 Grateful. Relieved. Still shaken. All of those things can exist at once."

'Cancer Doesn't Discriminate': A Wake-Up Call for Women Everywhere

Krishan had no family history of cancer, and by all accounts, was healthy when she first noticed something was off. But thanks to her swift action and early detection, she survived.

"Cancer doesn't discriminate," she warned.

Now, she's urging others — especially women — to listen to their bodies, get checked, and never take health for granted.

"This experience has changed me. It's taken me to very dark places mentally — conversations about your own mortality will do that — but it's also stripped life back to what truly matters," she wrote. "Your health is everything. Not work. Not possessions. Not perfection."

Messages Pour In: 'How Do You Still Look So Bloody Beautiful?'

Her emotional post sparked a flood of support from fans, friends, and even charities touched by her bravery.

"Oh darling — thinking of you and your family — and how do you still look so bloody beautiful when on a drip 😇," wrote one stunned admirer.

"Gosh Punam what a shock. Always feel like I know you as you're so lovely through here and on our screens. Sending loads of love to you and speedy healing wishes 💝 xxxx," added another.

"We are all so proud of you being so strong these last few months. As our patron your bravery in sharing your strong will help so many others impacted by breast cancer here in Scotland ❤️ xxx," wrote The House of Hope Scotland.

"You're so brave for sharing this, and even more incredible for having undergone treatment and carrying on with life as if nothing was happening. Thank you again for everything Punam, sending love and prayers always ❤️," another admirer said.

A Decade of Trauma: This Isn't Her First Brush With Death

Tragically, this isn't the first time Krishan has been face-to-face with mortality.

Back in 2013, while giving birth to her son Aanish, she endured a traumatic forceps delivery that led to her losing 60 percent of her blood volume. She suffered anaphylaxis, overwhelming sepsis, and organ failure — all while trying to tell doctors something was wrong with her newborn.

Her fears were initially dismissed — until weeks later, when baby Aanish collapsed in his grandmother's arms from silent reflux and had to be resuscitated.

The trauma spiraled into severe post-natal depression, and Krishan buried herself in work until she hit burnout.

"Being vulnerable is one of the scariest things," she told The Sunday Post in April 2025. "But on the other side of that is, I'd like to hope, strength."

She shared that those harrowing experiences forced her to reevaluate everything.

"It was a huge transitional moment in my life. And I'm thankful for that, because I practise gratitude now like you wouldn't imagine," she shared. "At one point my husband was told we weren't going to make it. Times were tough. I don't take anything for granted now."

More to Come When She Is Ready

Despite coming so close to death — twice — the beloved doctor and TV personality stands today as a symbol of resilience, ready to share more when she feels the time is right.

"For now, thank you for being here and for holding space with such kindness🤍," she wrote.