EastEnders star Cheryl Fergison, who played Heather Trott in the BBC One soap, has revealed her womb cancer diagnosis.
Cheryl, 58 – who is married to husband Yassine, 38, and mum to son Alex, 24 – said she knew “something didn’t feel right” after her routine smear when she started having backache and began “spotting blood”.
She underwent tests and doctors told her that she had stage 2 cancer of the womb. Cheryl has kept her diagnosis secret for almost a decade, having been told she had cancer back in 2015. She said that she’s speaking out now in the hope that her story might “empower other women”.
EastEnders star Cheryl Fergison reveals cancer diagnosis
Speaking to OK!, Cheryl said she went through some “dark moments” after her diagnosis.
She said it was a “horrendous time” and at night she would lie awake thinking “am I going to die?”.
Now living in Blackpool, Cheryl said she was diagnosed with womb cancer after visiting her GP with backache and being referred for tests and a biopsy.
She said upon hearing the news she was “stunned to the core”. Cheryl underwent an emergency hysterectomy – putting her into menopause. She then had five weeks of radiotherapy.
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Support from famous friends
Cheryl then holed up in EastEnders co-star Steve McFadden’s Cornish home while she recovered. She said the soap hardman is “like a big brother to me”.
Shirley Carter actress Linda Henry was also a huge support, as was the late Barbara Windsor, the late June Brown, the late Paul O’Grady and Julian Clary. “Their support meant the world to me,” she said.
I was in shock and said no but Barb was insistent.
Barbara in particular was a huge support to Cheryl. She said the EastEnders icon was “a great person to tell your problems to”. She also had a piece of advice for the actress: “She’d say: ‘Whatever’s going on in your own four walls, when you go outside, put on a smile – the public don’t want to see you miserable, darling.'”
Incredible gesture from EastEnders star Barbara
Barbara wasn’t just there for advice, though. She also offered practical help for Cheryl during her time of need.
Cheryl explained that, days after attending Paul O’Grady’s 60th birthday party, Barbara asked Cheryl to visit her at the home she shared with husband Scott Mitchell. There, she offered to support Cheryl financially because she wasn’t able to work.
“I popped to the loo and when I came back Barb said: ‘Right, darling, how much? How much are your bills and your mortgage because we’d like to support you.’ I was in shock and said no but Barb was insistent – I wasn’t earning. They sat there and wrote a cheque. I was sobbing but Barbara hugged me and said: ‘Don’t worry. We’re always going to be here for you.'”
Nine years on, Cheryl has now shared that she is well and recovered, admitting: “I’ve come through it and so can others.”
Read more: Cheryl Fergison ‘on the mend’ after being rushed to hospital
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