Sharon Osbourne has double mastectomy

Los Angeles - Sharon Osbourne has undergone a double mastectomy.

The 60-year-old TV host - who has battled colon cancer in the past - decided to have both of her breasts removed after finding out she carried a gene which increases the chances of her developing cancer in the chest area.

She said: "I've had cancer before and I didn't want to live under that cloud - I decided to take everything off.

"The odds are not in my favour. For me, it wasn't a big decision, it was a no brainer."

'Live life without that fear'

Sharon added part of her decision to have the 13-hour surgery to have them removed was due to the arrival of her first grandchild Pearl from son Jack Osbourne and his partner Lisa Stelly earlier this year.

She told Hello! magazine: "I didn't want to live the rest of my life with that shadow hanging over me. I want to be around for a long time and be a grandmother to Pearl.

"I didn't even think of my breasts in a nostalgic way, I just wanted to be able to live my life without that fear all the time."