Carol McGiffin makes first red carpet appearance since revealing breast cancer diagnosis as she cosies up to fiance Mark Cassidy at summer fashion party

Published: 19:54 EST, 16 July 2015 | Updated: 20:23 EST, 16 July 2015

View
comments

She opened up about her secret year-long battle with breast cancer in February,

And on Thursday Carol McGiffin made her first red carpet appearance since sharing her news, stepping out for In The Style's summer party at The Drury Club in London.

The 55-year-old TV star looked in great spirits as she joked around with her fiance Mark Cassidy at the event, and met up with her Celebrity Big Brother co-stars Charlotte Crosby and Louie Spence.

Back in the spotlight: Carol McGiffin hit the red carpet at In The Style's summer party at The Drury Club in London on Thursday evening, five months after revealing her cancer diagnosis

Carol, who is now in remission, chose a casual outfit for her night out, looking chic in a pair of cropped black trousers and a loose top.

A grey coat and some patterned heels finished off her look, with the star confidently displaying her short crop of hair.

Carol previously revealed that one of the reasons she decided to announce her cancer diagnosis was a longing to 'go out without my hat and for people not to be bothered.'

She was joined on the red carpet by her doting fiance Mark, 32, who looked smart in a blazer and green shirt as he cuddled up with his partner.

Support: The former Loose Women star was joined at the event by her fiance of six years Mark Cassidy

The former Loose Women star was also keen to meet up with some of her CBB castmates, tweeting before the party: 'On my way to see my gorgeous little friend @Charlottegshore and that other gorgeous little friend @louiespence @inthestyleUK #ITSsummerparty.'

In February Carol revealed she had been battling cancer for almost a year, after being diagnosed the previous April.

The TV star revealed that she had already had a mastectomy, six rounds of chemotherapy and over Christmas had finished her final of 15 sessions of radiotherapy on an aggressive grade 3 tumour that she discovered on her left breast.

The former Loose Women presenter, who quit the show in 2013, explained that she chose to keep her cancer battle out of the spotlight because she didn't want pity.

Party time: The couple looked in great spirits as they cosied up, with Carol choosing a casual outfit of cropped black trousers teamed with patterned heels

Confidence: The star displayed her short crop of hair after previously revealing that one of the reasons she decided to announce her diagnosis was a longing to 'go out without my hat and for people not to be bothered'

In May Carol made her first TV appearance since revealing her diagnosis, taking part on Big Brother's Bit On The Side.

She also enjoyed a relaxing holiday to Malaysia with Mark after celebrating the end of her treatment, with the star previously revealing that her fiance of six years has been a pillar of strength over the past year.

Speaking to the Mirror about her mastectomy, Carol explained:‘Mark constantly told me it didn’t matter, I was still me but it didn’t really sink in.'

‘He also made sure I knew how much he loved me and that he still fancied me. But deep down I didn’t believe him. But he did and although I loved him before, I love him even more for that now,’ she added. ‘Over the past year he has been there at my side for every moment, good and bad, from the very beginning.’