Mix 102.3’s Ali Clarke on cancer battle: ‘I’m so freaking lucky’

Mix 102.3 breakfast co-host Ali Clarke faces gruelling surgery after she emotionally revealed on live radio she was battling what she initially thought was a “very small and manageable” cancer.

Breaking down as she talked about her cancer battle, Mix 102.3’s Ali Clarke is determined to fight – telling her listeners “I’m so freaking lucky”.

Just after 7am Clarke, who co-hosts Max & Ali in the Morning with Max Burford, revealed she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and would be taking a break from the show.

“We’ve got this really, really early,” she said, adding the cancer was “fed by hormones – I know, not espresso martinis.”

Jokes aside, Clarke was serious about using her plight to raise awareness and help others.

REACHING OUT

Mix 102.3’s Ali Clarke has revealed to listeners that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Picture: Supplied

Mix 102.3’s Ali Clarke is trying to stay positive despite her cancer battle. Picture: Supplied

Ali Clarke fought back tears after revealing she had breast cancer. Picture: Supplied

“I know people listening right now will have lost people, or will have been going through it, or are maybe even going through this,” Clarke said, adding: “I mean, I think we all know someone by now who has had a battle with cancer.”

Before making the announcement, Clarke told her listeners: “Come and hold my hand … I might need it.”

In tears as she talked about how she would undergo a mastectomy later this week, Clarke invited listeners to call in with advice or just to talk about their own experiences.

“But the long and the short of it means that I am going to have a full mastectomy,” she said, adding: “Which, if you’re playing at home, that means they’re taking one of my boobs.”

“And if I’m truly honest, it’s probably been that bit that’s been much more confronting than I ever thought it will be.”

Ali Clarke said she would undergo a mastectomy later this week. Picture: Supplied

Ali Clarke invited listeners to call in with advice or just to talk about their own experiences. Picture: Supplied

She talked about the range of emotions she was experiencing. Picture: Supplied

Clarke continued: “I thought it was very small and manageable. But they found quite a lot of small little cancers and that means that I’ll be going in for some pretty big surgery later this week, and I’ll have to take some time off to recover as you can imagine.”

SPEAKING HONESTLY

Grateful for the support she had received from her family and friends, who have given her flowers, Clarke asked listeners not to send any to Mix. She asked them to give a flower or two to wonderful people in their own circle and community instead.

Clarke also talked about the range of emotions she was experiencing.

“I’ve never dressed skimpily, like, I’ve never put my boobs on display – they’ve absolutely been functional, “ she said, adding: “In fact, when I was growing up, you know, they almost got in the way of playing sport.”

“I’ve really battled with myself, between being angry at myself for almost feeling shame about losing a part of me … (but) the other biggest part of my brain knows that this is really what needs to happen for me to be good.”

EARLY DIAGNOSIS

Praising the health workers and system, which enabled her early diagnosis, Clarke also revealed how she discovered she had breast cancer.

“Because I was getting really cranky at my husband I thought I was going through perimenopause,” she said, adding her GP recommended they “get a baseline in your mammogram”.

Clarke added: “And that’s what started this whole ball rolling … I’m so freakin lucky.”

On Monday, Clarke and Burford featured in a promo saying they would be making an announcement about the “Mix family” during their show on Tuesday, July 23.

Talking to Mix presenter Michelle Murphy, Clarke said “there are going to be a few changes, but we’ll run you through it”.

Ali Clarke at her home in 2023. Picture: Kelly Barnes

The Advertiser understands one or two fill-in presenters for Clarke will be announced.

The announcement comes after months of persistent speculation that Mix’s local breakfast program will be replaced by a syndicated Kyle & Jackie O Show.

Jackie O and Kyle Sandilands. Source: Facebook: The Kyle and Jackie O Show

In the latest radio ratings Triple M was No. 1 in the breakfast timeslot and overall. Its brekky hosts – Mark Ricciuto, Chris Dittmar and Laura O’Callaghan – were in top spot for the 11th consecutive survey.

FIVEaa’s David Penberthy and Will Goodings were second, followed by ABC Adelaide’s Sonya Feldhoff and Jules Schiller.

Mix 102.3’s Max & Ali in the Morning finished fourth.