Kristina Rihanoff was a professional dancer on Strictly (Image: GETTY)
A former Strictly Come Dancing star has opened up about an “agonising” health battle she has been facing for the past year. Kristina Rihanoff, who was a dancer on the BBC show from 2008 to 2015, said she has been struggling with extreme symptoms of perimenopause.
She also recently discovered she carries a genetic variant in the CHEK2 gene, with certain harmful variants associated with a moderately increased risk of cancer, particularly breast cancer.
The 49-year-old says there are times when she struggles to get out of bed due to pain and sickness, which she has to force herself to overcome as a dancer. Having been advised by medics not to take HRT, she now faces the difficult decision over whether to undergo major surgery.
The dancer described her symptoms as ‘agonising’ (Image: Getty)
“I’ve been suffering in silence and it’s taken a toll on me mentally, emotionally and physically,” she told Closer Magazine. “Some days I can barely get out of bed because of the pain, sickness and headaches, but I’ve been putting on a brave face.
“I have to go and teach, judge and be the Kristina everyone knows, but that’s hard. It’s like playing a role that isn’t me at the moment,” she added.
Kristina decided to undergo genetic testing in 2023 because of her family history of ovarian and breast cancer. Her aunt had breast cancer, while her grandmother died from ovarian cancer aged just 57.
Being a mum herself to daughter Mila, she said this prompted her to ensure she can be there for her “as long as I can”. Tests determined that Kristina carries a variant in the CHEK2 gene.
The dancer is engaged to former rugby player Ben Cohen (Image: Getty)
According to NHS guidance, certain harmful CHEK2 variants are associated with a moderately increased risk of developing breast cancer, although the level of risk depends on the specific variant, family history and other factors.
Kristina said the discovery left her “shocked” and admitted CHEK2 was something she had never heard of. Following the advice that she shouldn’t take HRT, the dancer says she’s been “really struggling” with symptoms including night sweats, heart palpitations and anxiety.
“I also have incredibly heavy periods, which leave me with terrible pelvic pain and headaches that make me so nauseous I feel like I want to throw up,” she added to the publication.
The dancer is taking painkillers to help ease some of her symptoms, but she is also considering whether to have a hysterectomy, a surgical operation to remove the womb, also known as the uterus.
Kristina says she’s been ‘putting on a brave face’ during her health battle (Image: Getty)
“But I’m not sure what the right step is,” she shared. “I feel like I’m in limbo.”
The NHS notes that if you have a CHEK2 variant but have never had breast cancer, HRT isn’t necessarily ruled out.
Someone at increased breast-cancer risk can be referred to a menopause specialist to discuss the benefits and risks. Whether HRT is appropriate is considered on a case-by-case basis.
Kristina hopes that by speaking out about her struggles, it may help others in the same situation.
“For anyone who’s struggling like me, I want you to know that you’re not alone,” she concluded.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
