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Karl Stefanovic too embarrassed to face breast cancer survivor

Aug 08, 2017

The segment on This Time Next Year went from tears to laughter and back again. Image: 9Now

Karl Stefanovic’s newest gig, This Time Next Year, is already proving popular with its seemingly instantaneous transformations. A mixed bag of weight loss, recovery from traumatic injury, childbearing journeys and feel-good kids’ achievements, the show has something for everyone.

Even Stefanovic can’t help getting hot and bothered when faced with one guest’s year-long transformation.Her goal? “This time next year, I will have amazing boobs.”

It might seem like a fairly vapid goal at first, but two weeks before filming her segment, Lara Thomas was diagnosed with breast cancer. In an interview that proved tearful for both Stefanovic and Thomas, she talked about her fears for herself and her children but decided to look on the positive side.

Stefanovic couldn’t stop tears from welling in his eyes. Image: 9Now

Knowing she would have to undergo a mastectomy, Thomas decided to work it to her advantage and get “the boobs I’ve always wanted”.

“After two kids, they’re a bit – they’re going south,” Thomas joked.

“They’re going south,” Thomas joked. Image: 9Now

Stefanovic could barely talk about the breast surgery without giggling, even though Thomas teased him with plenty of terminology options.

The two were cheerful as they chatted about options. Image: 9Now

When Thomas came out on the other side of the stage a year later, she was rocking a shorter hair style (her hair had been shaved during chemotherapy) and a set of brand-new breasts.

“You can check them out. I check them out all the time, Karl,” Thomas said, gesturing to her chest.

Thomas proudly drew attention to her chest. Image: 9Now

Stefanovic hesitated before declining the offer, saying that Thomas’s husband, who was sitting in the audience, “looks very big”.

The host couldn’t stop giggling and avoided staring directly at Thomas’s breast. Image: 9Now

Although Thomas can’t say for certain that she’s cancer-free, her tumour was successfully removed.

“I’m doing everything that I’m supposed to do to prevent it coming back,” Thomas said.

When asked if her new breasts helped make her feel sexier, Thomas couldn’t hide a blush of her own.

“Having these great things – it does make me feel pretty good about myself. They’re not going anywhere. I’m going to have the best t**s in the nursing home.”