Latest news with #chemotherapy


The Sun
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
EastEnders' Heather Peace shares huge update in breast cancer battle after she and her wife were both diagnosed
EASTENDERS star Heather Peace has shared an important update in her breast cancer battle. The 50-year-old, who plays Eve Unwin on the BBC One soap, was diagnosed with breast cancer in October last year. 4 But despite her health issues, she bravely continued to film for the soap. The soap star went on to have chemotherapy as well as undergoing a left breast mastectomy and a reconstruction. Heather took to Instagram on Thursday to update her fans on her journey, writing: "Final round of 15 radio therapy sessions just completed. "This marked the end of long 9 months of diagnosis, surgery, chemo and radio. "Time to piece myself back together. Thanks for all the beautiful support. #checkyourbreasts #breastcancerawareness". Fans flooded with comments of admiration and support, with one writing: "What an amazing woman. Her sheer will and determination to keep filming whilst battling this awful disease has been unbelievable." Another added: "What a legend, wishing her all the best in her recovery." A third penned: "As someone going through a similar diagnosis, seeing Heather on the other side of treatment is incredibly inspiring." Just as she was about to begin radiotherapy, Heather revealed the heartbreaking news last week that her wife Ellie has also been diagnosed with the disease. She told the Mirror: 'Her breast cancer was a smaller, aggressive lump, so she had a lumpectomy and then radiotherapy. EastEnders' Eve actress Heather Peace shares snaps from her very different job off screen "Of course, then I come along with my 12cm lump, absolutely ginormous, and mastectomy, chemotherapy, just about to go into radiotherapy. "She's like 'Even that you have to do bigger.' It's like 'Hold my beer.'" This comes after the star revealed decided to continue filming for her dramatic wedding scenes just hours after her cancer diagnosis. Her character was embroiled in dramatic scenes, which included her wedding to Suki Panesar as well as being poisoned by Suki's ex-husband Nish Panesar. Revealing why she decided to continue working, she told Gaby Roslin on her podcast that she wanted to film the important scenes because she feared she would die. The former Waterloo Road star expressed: 'We got back to Brighton at 7 o'clock, and I was on the road at 10 past five that morning, to Elstree, to start possibly the two biggest weeks that I've done on EastEnders.' Heather explained that she had told bosses about her diagnosis and was told she didn't need to come in while she was taking in the life-changing news as well as undergoing treatment. 'I said 'I need to come in' because at this point I don't know what's going to happen,' she continued. 'And I want to finish this arc of the story. Not coming in for the next two weeks is not going to change anything, but at least let me put the full stop on a story that's been playing out for nearly two and a half years. 'If we get to the end of that and we see them get married and we see them successful, if beyond that it's a mess, I can leave and feel like I've put a full stop on something." 4


Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
'Sussex Squad's' sinister Kate theories that left her 'shocked by virulence' at most vulnerable moment. With meticulous research, RICHARD EDEN reveals toxic truth
After completing her chemotherapy treatment, the Princess of Wales admitted last September that it had been an 'incredibly tough' nine months. Her traumatic year was made even more horrendous by the sustained trolling – online mockery and abuse – that our future Queen suffered at the hands of some of the more fanatical supporters of Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan.


BBC News
15 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Medical trial for penis cancer 'gave me two more years'
A man who was the first to take part in a medical trial for penile cancer says it may have extended his life by two years. Eddie Baker, 83, was given immunotherapy alongside the usual treatment of chemotherapy as part of the clinical trial, named treatment was found to have extended the predicted lifespans of more than half of the participants in the study, which was carried out by University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Baker, from Yate, South Gloucestershire, said: "All I can say is, it is the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me because I know if I hadn't had that, I would not be on this planet to this day." Mr Baker told the BBC his cancer had been caught late because it took over a year for him to come forward with his symptoms. The NHS says symptoms can include bleeding, a rash, a lump or growth, and a change in skin colour."It didn't look very good," Mr Baker said. "The actual swelling got bigger and bigger and then I was trying to get somewhere to get my life sorted out and find out what it was. It was too late."He had to have an amputation and has been left with incurable cancer. Consultant oncologist and chief investigator of the EPIC study, Professor Amit Bahl, said the stigma around such symptoms often leads to late said: "In cancers like these, there is no support system, you can't go out and talk about it because most patients have never heard you can get cancer in the penis. "If you ask ladies, they have heard about cancer in the cervix, in the vagina, but cancer in the penis never gets talked about."The immunotherapy treatment used in the trial is not available on the NHS, but Professor Bahl is applying to the Cancer Drugs Fund to pay for the small number patients who may benefit. Using immunotherapy to treat cancer is still considered by doctors to be a relatively new more than 60 per cent of the patients in the trial, who all had advanced penile cancer, were found to have had a clinical these patients, predicted lifespans increased to 15 months on Bahl said: "Our aim is to improve outcomes in this rare cancer, which has limited treatment options."Penile cancer can be a very aggressive disease, but this study shows we might be able to give men a little more time."Penile cancer is rare, and it usually presents externally first, so when patients are diagnosed, early treatments which can cure the cancer are possible."The trial has proved so successful that Professor Bahl is now planning to start another trial to give immunotherapy at an earlier stage of the disease, in the hope that it will improve cure rates.


Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Strictly's Amy Dowden reveals why she refuses to look at the rumoured line-up as she insists she's 'stronger than ever' ahead of returning to the show after cancer battle
Strictly Come Dancing's Amy Dowden says she had the 'hardest time' after ringing the chemotherapy bell when she completed her cancer treatment. The professional dancer Now in remission, Amy is hoping to raise awareness of the importance of checking in with people even after they have got the all-clear from cancer. 'I was so lucky with my friends and family; they rallied around us, but there's so many people who told me they didn't hear from anybody after they rang their bell - they thought they were fine. 'But little do they know, that's the hardest time, because that's when you've had all your chemo, that's when you're really struggling to walk up the stairs and really feeling the impact of a cancer treatment and diagnosis. 'I think it's important that people just having a better understanding.' has revealed why she refuses to look at the show's rumoured line-up. The BBC show is set to return to screens in September, with a plethora of celebrities tipped to take part including Dani Dyer, Stacey Solomon and Vicky Pattison. However, while excitement builds about the line-up, dancer Amy, 34, told in an exclusive interview with the MailOnline how she purposely avoids the speculation as she prefers her partner to be a 'lovely surprise'. Meanwhile, the Welsh beauty told how she's 'stronger than ever' as she gears up to join her fellow professional dancers for the new series following her battle with breast cancer. Speaking of the rumoured cast for the 2025 show, Amy shared: 'I haven't seen [the rumoured line-up], and I don't look at it. Normally, none of them are normally on the show anyway. 'We don't get told anything, and I'm glad we don't because I want a lovely surprise.' Amy went on to say that she'd recently been filming Celebrity Hunted alongside fellow pro Carlos Gu, so had not 'seen anything' anyway. She added: 'Me being genuinely honest, I don't tend to not look anyway, because most of the time it is not true.' Meanwhile, Amy insisted that she's feeling 'fitter and stronger than ever right now' in light of both her ongoing recovery from cancer as well as her injury last year which forced her to quit that series. The star was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer at the age of just 32 in 2023 and made the decision early on to openly share her journey in the hope that it would help other people. When asked how she knew the lump she discovered the day before her honeymoon was different, she admitted that the key to her early, lifesaving diagnosis was getting to know her breasts ahead of time. She said: 'It was a real solid lump for a start, and it wasn't on the other breast.' The dancer, who was forced to pull out of last year's Strictly because of a foot injury, stressed: 'If there is something that you are not sure about, go to the GP. Get a check-up. 'It doesn't matter how big or small it might feel - don't think of being a nuisance. It's why we have the healthcare system we have in place.' Meanwhile, the Welsh beauty told how she's 'stronger than ever' as she gears up to join her fellow professional dancers for the new series following her battle with breast cancer While Amy was thankfully given the all-clear last year after an operation and chemotherapy, she is now speaking out about the 'longest' part of her cancer journey - her recovery While Amy was thankfully told she had 'no evidence of cancer' last year after surgery and chemotherapy, she is now speaking out about the 'longest' part of her journey - her recovery. Generally speaking, those who have had breast cancer are at the greatest risk of recurrence in the first five years. The star said: 'I was very deluded - I literally thought I would be ringing the bell and my life would come back. 'I didn't anticipate or realise the journey ahead of recovery and how long it was going to take, both physically and mentally, and I wish I had more preparation for that.' Speaking in collaboration with Keep Ahead, a campaign to raise awareness of the aftermath of cancer initiated by Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK, Amy said that while she still has a challenging number of years ahead of her, she is getting through the uncertainty by doing what she loves, dancing. She said: 'Especially this year, just throwing myself into that - taking dance lessons, being on theatre tours, and being able to now do what I love most and what makes me happy is what has got me through some tough times.' The star was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer at the age of just 32 in 2023 and made the decision early on to openly share her journey in the hope that it would help other people Amy was speaking at the launch of Keep Ahead - a campaign initiated and funded by Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK. It aims to raise awareness of the life after cancer, risk and fear of recurrence, and empower people living with breast cancer to take an active role in decision making about their treatment and care journey.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Teen Refuses to Shave Head for Niece With Cancer. Now His Family Is Calling Him Selfish
A teen turns to Reddit after his family asks him to shave his head to support his young niece with cancer, but he's unsure the gesture matters A teen turns to the Reddit community for advice following a heartbreaking request that leaves him feeling torn between love and personal identity. At just 17 years old, he finds himself facing unexpected pressure from his family after his young niece is diagnosed with leukemia. 'I really really don't want to sound egoistic, but I'm a guy with long hair, which over the years has basically become my personality,' the teen explains in his post. He says that while he's always cared for his niece and her family, he's struggling with the idea of giving up the one thing that brings him confidence and joy. The situation begins when his 7-year-old niece is diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a moment that the teen says 'basically broke their family apart.' Wanting to be supportive, he makes efforts to emotionally be there for his niece and the rest of the family during the difficult time. But things shift when chemotherapy causes his niece's 'beautiful long blonde hair' to fall out, and her family decides to shave her head. 'The next day, a group chat including the entire family was created where my aunt announced it would be wholesome if everyone shaved their hair off as well,' he writes. At first, the teen finds the idea 'wholesome,' but admits he doubts anyone would actually follow through. That changes quickly when he comes home to find both his mother and sister already bald. '[Followed] by my other cousin, and grandma,' he adds. The pressure mounts when his mother confronts him the next morning. 'When are you ready to do it?' she asks, trimmer in hand. The teen is stunned. 'I originally thought it was something to decide on your own,' he says. 'But since everyone else is doing it, I'm kind of being pushed into a corner.' Though he deeply loves his niece, the teen can't ignore how much his hair means to him. 'It's pretty much the only thing about myself I love,' he admits. He also questions how much the gesture really matters to his niece, recalling a video his aunt took of her reaction to other family members shaving their heads. 'She has to tap her maybe 4 times to get her attention, and when she looks, she just stares at it, says 'wow' and continues watching her cartoon,' he writes. After watching that video, he notices his mom becoming 'pushy' about him doing the same. 'In other words, she wants to drag me down into the pit with her,' he says. Things intensify when he receives a text from his aunt urging him to shave his head too. 'She said it would be really nice if I shaved my head as well, in order to show my emotional support,' he writes. But the teen questions whether the act would truly have any impact. 'If we have to keep things real, shaving my head will basically change nothing in the entire situation,' he says. 'But I can't just say no, can I?' He reveals that what stings the most is the lack of acknowledgment shown to the family members who already shaved their heads. 'If my aunt would have shown a little more appreciation to my sister and mom, I would have probably considered it,' he admits. 'But considering she did not even reply to the pictures and just immediately showed them to my niece, as if you HAVE to do it, I don't think I'm willing to do it.' Despite the emotional weight of the decision, the teen reiterates his love for his niece. 'I really really really love my niece,' he writes. 'And even though I'm not that close with her, I always really cared about her and made sure she always felt comfortable with me.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. But the emotional burden is growing, and the teen feels outnumbered. 'I'm almost getting threatened to cut off my hair by three people,' he shares. What troubles him most is the fear of sacrificing something personal only for it to go unrecognized. 'If I do decide to do it, what if no appreciation is shown?' he asks. 'Yes, I would have done it, to show support from my side, but if it's nowhere to be appreciated, then what's the point?' Other Redditors weigh in, including cancer survivors themselves. 'Don't do it,' one commenter writes. 'I never asked, wanted anyone to do that. It made me feel worse.' Another commenter echoes that sentiment. 'As a cancer patient, I never understood this gesture,' they say. 'I also see it as attention seeking behavior.' The teen ends his post not with anger, but with a question that reflects the emotional complexity of his situation. 'But really, what do I do?' he asks. 'I seriously really don't know.' Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword