ITV viewers were in tears on Thursday night as they tuned into new documentary Julia Bradbury : Breast Cancer and Me.
The hour-long film followed the 51-year-old TV presenter as she prepared to have a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery just weeks after being diagnose with breast cancer in 2021.
Not only did Julia allow the cameras into hospital with her, she also decided to go topless for a couple of scenes in order to make the documentary as relatable as possible.
One particularly poignant moment saw Julia tell the cameras she felt like "a slab of meat" as she showed off her bare chest covered in black marker pen ahead of her operation.
Sitting in her hospital room, she explained: "So my surgeon has been in, he's marked up my body," before removing her hospital gown to show her bare torso which was covered in marks.
"So you feel like you've been tattooed a bit," Julia continued.
"He explained that he just wants to get the symmetry right, and obviously when you lie down, everything looks different so he measured me again, he took photographs again, he checked where my marks from yesterday's procedure was because that's where they'll remove the Lymph node from...
"And yeah it's a weird process sort of being marked up, you do feel a bit like a slab of meat," the mother-of-three added.
Later on in the documentary, Julia decided to show her new breast as she inspected her chest in the mirror.
"I haven't wanted to look at my breast while it was still very angry and sore," she admitted as she undressed.
"Look, of course, I've showered and I've caught a glimpse of this and that, but I haven't stood front on in a mirror because I wanted it to be when I felt emotionally ready, and when I felt that physically I had some time to heal.
After undoing her bra, Julia took a deep breath and said: "There you go, that's my new boob. Okay, well it looks like a boob, just looks like a big lumpy boob. It looks like a plasticine boob at the moment."
Viewers clearly found the scenes very emotional to watch and took to Twitter to comment.
One person wrote: "Gosh this is so moving" as another viewer tweeted: "Tears running down my face, I'm a club member too."
A third person posted: "Balling my eyes out! My heart goes out too you."
And a fourth viewer added: "Watching Breast Cancer And Me. This documentary is just like you Julia Bradbury honest, ballsy and powerful. Massive love to you and your beautiful family x"
Another posted: "Julia Bradbury is a fierce queen! What a hero allowing cameras to film her journey in the name of raising awareness. In awe of you beaut."
"I have no words whilst watching Julia Bradbury breast cancer & me on ITV," another said. "You are amazing Julia with the strength shown during your journey with this awful disease."
Another commented: "So hard to watch but what a strong woman she is!!" alongside a crying emoji.
Julia Bradbury: Breast Cancer and Me is available to watch on ITV Hub.
You can call the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00 for more information.
