Strictly stars break silence after ‘shock’ of Dr Punam Krishan’s cancer battle
Dr. Punam Krishan’s Cancer Battle and Support from Strictly Stars
By Abby Allen | January 5, 2026
Dr. Punam Krishan’s Health Update
Dr. Punam Krishan, who participated in Strictly Come Dancing in 2024 and is a familiar face on the BBC’s Morning Live and Radio Scotland, recently revealed her breast cancer diagnosis. On Sunday, the Scottish GP shared her journey on Instagram, disclosing that she had been diagnosed five months earlier. Her announcement was met with an outpouring of support from her fellow Strictly stars.
Sharing Her Story
In her Instagram post, Dr. Punam shared a photo of herself in a hospital bed with a heartfelt caption:
“Here goes… 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.”
She continued,
“I’ve spent almost two decades as a doctor, supporting patients and families through difficult diagnoses. And yet, nothing—absolutely nothing—prepares you for being on the receiving end yourself. The shock. The fear. The trauma. In that moment, knowledge means very little. I was diagnosed with breast cancer.”
Dr. Punam explained that she had taken things one day at a time, supported by an extraordinary NHS team. She kept her diagnosis private to protect her energy and her children.
“I’ve now completed treatment and I’m healing. Grateful. Relieved. Still shaken. All of those things can exist at once,” she shared.
She decided to share her story to emphasize the importance of early detection.
“Cancer doesn’t discriminate. I had no family history. I was well. I’m a doctor. And yet—here I am. This experience has changed me. It’s taken me to very dark places mentally, but it’s also stripped life back to what truly matters,” she wrote.
Support from Strictly Stars
Many Strictly dancers and celebrities rallied around Dr. Punam, sharing their support in the comments section of her post:
- Nancy Xu: “Sending you lots of love!!!! You got this”
- Nadiya Bychkova: “Sending you all our love”
- Michelle Tsiakkas: “Sending you so much love. You’ve got this”
Her professional partner on the show, Gorka Marquez, shared a heartfelt message:
“I know you and I know you will get through this! And we will be sat having a coffee and a croissant.”
Other stars, including Carlos Gu, Neil Jones, and Amy Dowden, also sent their love and support.
Dr. Punam’s Strictly Journey
Dr. Punam competed with Gorka on Strictly in 2024 and became the fifth star to exit the series. Before her departure, the pair made history as the first to perform a traditional Bollywood song, Bole Chudiyan, from the 2001 hit film Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.
Reflecting on her time on Strictly, Dr. Punam told the BBC in October 2024:
“It’s brought lots of joy to consultations. I think people forget that as doctors, as healthcare professionals, we are under so much pressure in the NHS, but we are also people. It has been nice for my patients to see another side to me. We’re not just those serious people who sit at the other side of the consultation table.”
