FORMER EASTENDERS ACTRESS CHERYL FERGISON REVEALS WOMB CANCER DIAGNOSIS

EastEnders actress Cheryl Fergison has revealed she battled womb cancer in a new interview, shedding light on her battle since getting the diagnosis nine years ago.

Known for her portrayal of Heather Trott on the BBC soap from 2007 to 2012, the 58-year-old actress has chosen to speak about her health struggles, particularly her encounter with stage two womb cancer diagnosed in 2015, describing it as a 'horrendous time.'

She told Ok! Magazine: 'There were some dark moments, especially at night, when I thought, 'Am I going to die? Am I going to leave my husband without a wife, my son without a mum?'

'But the time is right to talk about it all now. I'm hoping my story might empower other women.

'I've been through a lot but I'm still here. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.' 

She found out about the cancer after a routine smear test that initially yielded clear results. However, persistent back pain and abnormal bleeding prompted her to seek medical attention, leading to a series of tests and a biopsy, ultimately revealing the diagnosis of stage two womb cancer. The moment of truth, as she described it, was akin to an 'out of body experience,' leaving her stunned.

Following x-rays, it was recommended she undergo a full hysterectomy.

The actress's news comes on the heels of a recent health scare that landed her in the hospital, where she endured excruciating pain due to an infection.

She is now looking forward to getting back on her feet and told fans:

 'Hi everyone, I've just spent the last 24 hours in A&E at Blackpool Victoria hospital. I've seen things in the last 24 hours I can't unsee. I've been in complete agony. 

'I've been made a million times better by the angels that are all of the NHS staff which I wanna thank, like, big time. When people say they don't get paid enough - they really don't get paid enough.

'We've got a broken system. It's gone to pot. It's shot. But it's still amazing and we still have it - just, by a thread.'

She added: 'I wanna firstly say a huge thank you. I'm a lot better and when you sit for 24 hours in a chair in an A&E department being shipped off every six hours to go and get an IV, antibiotic drips, and come back again...'