trisha goddardBritish chatshow host Trisha Goddard has revealed she’s gone for a bold, new look to prepare herself for her battle against breast cancer.

Trisha was diagnosed with the disease in March this year and after undergoing initial surgeries, she’s now set to start chemotherapy as a precautionary measure - and has her previously long hair cropped short in advance of the treatment.

She told Hello magazine: “When I learned that I was going to need chemotherapy following my surgery for breast cancer, I had to consider the prospect of losing my hair - something which really scared me.

“As a woman, my hair really helps me feel feminine. I am going to wear a cold cap during my treatment - something which stretches over your head and freezes the hair follicles, hopefully protecting them.

“But that works better with short hair, so I knew that my usual hair extensions would have to be taken out and a shorter style would help. Also, if my hair does end up falling out, I don’t want to look like a victim.

“So I decided to have a short crop for both practical and emotional reasons. Then, as I was talking to my husband Peter [Gianfrancesco] about it, he said ‘Why don’t you go the whole hog and have it bleached.’ As soon as he suggested it, I thought ‘Yes!’ It is like wearing my hair with pride and actually taking control.

“The thought of losing my hair through the chemotherapy is so scary - but this is my own way of sticking two fingers up at the situation I find myself in.”

But, she added, it was easier said than done: “I deliberately didn’t have a mirror in the room so I didn’t have to sit and watch it all come off.”

“I had to have several glasses of champagne to help me through it. I only looked when my hair stylist finished bleaching it blonde and I was shocked. It was like staring at someone else’s face, one I didn’t recognise. If I do look in the mirror, it’s like an intruder staring back - a stranger I don’t recognise.

“Once these pictures have been shown I’m going to feel a lot braver about my new hairdo. It’s like being outed - once people have seen these photographs, I’ll find the courage to go out without a wig.

“It would be bull**** to say that I feel liberated and wonderful with this new hairstyle, because it reminds me of what is to come with my chemotherapy, and it scares me.

“But on the other hand, I’m pleased I’ve made this statement through the hairstyle. I’ve seized back just a tiny bit of control in a situation which is otherwise out of my control.”