EastEnders star Samantha Womack reveals she has breast cancer in Olivia Newton-John tribute

EastEnders legend Samantha Womack has been diagnosed with breast cancer. 

The soap star, 49, announced on Tuesday that she she’d ‘started her own battle’ with the disease as she paid tribute to Olivia Newton-John, who died on Monday morning aged 73 after long fight with cancer. 

In a tribute to the late actress, she tweeted a picture of the pair with Olivia’s daughter Chloe, taken when Samantha had played Sandy in the 1993 West End production of Grease. 

Samantha captioned the image: ‘This was the most magical of evenings. Olivia and Chloe had come to see Grease in London and we had dinner together afterwards. 

‘I was so excited and in awe, she was my childhood. I now start my own battle with this disease and am left feeling deeply moved. #OliviaNewtonJohn.’

Candid: Ex-EastEnders star Samantha Womack revealed she has breast cancer as she paid tribute to the late Olivia Newton-John in a 1993 image with the late actress and her daughter Chloe 

Samantha, who famously played Ronnie Mitchell in EastEnders from 2007 to 2017, was immediately flooded with messages of support from her celebrity friends. 

Referencing the star’s upcoming stint in the West End production of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, comedian Shappi Khorsandi penned: ‘Sending the most brilliant White Witch support and love x’ 

Samantha’s on-screen sister in EastEnders, Rita Simons, also reached out, tweeting: ‘Love you forever my sis’.

This Morning’s soap expert Sharon Marshall tweeted: ‘Wishing you love and strength’, while actress Lucia Keskin added: ‘Sending strength. Love you loads!!!!!!’ 

Heartbreaking: Samantha, who shares children Benjamin, 21, and Lili Rose, 17, with ex-husband Mark, offered no further details on her diagnosis (pictured in July 2022) 

Seeing double: Samantha (left) played Sandy in the 1993 West End production of Grease, a role made famous by Olivia (right) in the 1978 film 

Samantha, who shares children Benjamin, 21, and Lili Rose, 17, with ex-husband Mark, offered no further details on her diagnosis. 

The star recently discussed her complicated family life as she revealed she was ‘proud’ that she is able to speak to her ex-husband, who she split from in 2020, ‘two or three times a day.’ 

She said: ‘Mark and I raised a family really well, so we agreed that we didn’t mind separating in terms of a traditional marriage, but actually I would really have suffered if we hadn’t maintained a friendship, because that was part of my life for 20 years.

‘We speak to each other two or three times a day, Mark will say, “Can I pop round next week – can you have the two Chihuahuas?” and I’ll say, “Yeah, but can you have the cat next week?”‘

Reaching out: Samantha was immediately flooded with messages of support from her celebrity friends

Iconic: Samantha famously played Ronnie Mitchell in EastEnders from 2007 to 2017 (pictured right alongside on-screen sister Roxy, played by Rita Simons) 

Samantha is currently dating former Coronation Street actor Oliver Farnworth, 39, and the pair live together in Spain, after relocating to Valencia at the start of the year.

The couple’s romance first came to light in May last year when a source revealed: ‘Samantha’s chemistry with Oliver was clear to see on stage and they remained close after the production.

‘They couldn’t be happier and have loved dating away from the public eye.

‘They’ve met each other’s families and it all feels very natural. They’re totally smitten with each other.

‘Plus her ex Mark is happy for her too. It’s all very grown-up and modern.’

Close: Former flame: Samantha shares children Benjamin, 21, and Lili Rose, 17, with ex-husband Mark (pictured in 2013) and offered no further details on her diagnosis

Cute couple: Samantha is currently dating former Coronation Street actor Oliver Farnworth, 39, and the pair live together in Spain, after relocating to Valencia at the start of the year

Samantha’s candid post came after Olivia died following a 30-year battle with breast cancer. 

Olivia, who shot to international stardom thanks to her role as Sandy in the 1978 movie Grease, died surrounded by family at her home in southern California after a long battle with breast cancer.

Her husband revealed the actress’ final request was for donations to be made to the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, ‘in lieu of flowers’.

The foundation funds research into plant-based medicine and holistic treatments for cancer.

Heartbreaking: Olivia died on Monday following a 30-year battle with breast cancer, in a final video posted just before Christmas, Olivia thanked her fans for their support over the years

In a final video posted just before Christmas, Olivia thanked her fans for their support over the years.

‘I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish all a primarily healthy, happy, peaceful Christmas,’ she said.

I know it’s been a very, very, very difficult time for everybody in the whole planet – so this is a time we can get together, celebrate each other and our families and whatever faith that you believe in we can express it with each other which is very important.

‘I want to thank you all for all of your support over the years and I wish you all the best and send you love and light.’

Olivia’s battle with breast cancer first began in 1992 when she was just 44 years old. She was very open about her diagnosis and treatment, which famously included the use of medical marijuana.

Her cancer returned in 2013 and again in 2017.

The Macmillan Support Line offers free, confidential support to people living with cancer and their loved ones. Call 0808 808 00 00 for support 

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and affects more than two MILLION women a year

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Each year in the UK there are more than 55,000 new cases, and the disease claims the lives of 11,500 women. In the US, it strikes 266,000 each year and kills 40,000. But what causes it and how can it be treated?

What is breast cancer?

Breast cancer develops from a cancerous cell which develops in the lining of a duct or lobule in one of the breasts.

When the breast cancer has spread into surrounding breast tissue it is called an ‘invasive’ breast cancer. Some people are diagnosed with ‘carcinoma in situ’, where no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobule.

Most cases develop in women over the age of 50 but younger women are sometimes affected. Breast cancer can develop in men though this is rare.

Staging means how big the cancer is and whether it has spread. Stage 1 is the earliest stage and stage 4 means the cancer has spread to another part of the body.

The cancerous cells are graded from low, which means a slow growth, to high, which is fast growing. High grade cancers are more likely to come back after they have first been treated.

What causes breast cancer?

A cancerous tumour starts from one abnormal cell. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. It is thought that something damages or alters certain genes in the cell. This makes the cell abnormal and multiply ‘out of control’.

Although breast cancer can develop for no apparent reason, there are some risk factors that can increase the chance of developing breast cancer, such as genetics.

What are the symptoms of breast cancer?

The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast, although most breast lumps are not cancerous and are fluid filled cysts, which are benign. 

The first place that breast cancer usually spreads to is the lymph nodes in the armpit. If this occurs you will develop a swelling or lump in an armpit.

How is breast cancer diagnosed?

• Initial assessment: A doctor examines the breasts and armpits. They may do tests such as a mammography, a special x-ray of the breast tissue which can indicate the possibility of tumours.
• Biopsy: A biopsy is when a small sample of tissue is removed from a part of the body. The sample is then examined under the microscope to look for abnormal cells. The sample can confirm or rule out cancer.

If you are confirmed to have breast cancer, further tests may be needed to assess if it has spread. For example, blood tests, an ultrasound scan of the liver or a chest x-ray.

How is breast cancer treated?

Treatment options which may be considered include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment. Often a combination of two or more of these treatments are used.

• Surgery: Breast-conserving surgery or the removal of the affected breast depending on the size of the tumour.
• Radiotherapy: A treatment which uses high energy beams of radiation focussed on cancerous tissue. This kills cancer cells, or stops cancer cells from multiplying. It is mainly used in addition to surgery.
• Chemotherapy: A treatment of cancer by using anti-cancer drugs which kill cancer cells, or stop them from multiplying
• Hormone treatments: Some types of breast cancer are affected by the ‘female’ hormone oestrogen, which can stimulate the cancer cells to divide and multiply. Treatments which reduce the level of these hormones, or prevent them from working, are commonly used in people with breast cancer.

How successful is treatment?

The outlook is best in those who are diagnosed when the cancer is still small, and has not spread. Surgical removal of a tumour in an early stage may then give a good chance of cure.

The routine mammography offered to women between the ages of 50 and 70 mean more breast cancers are being diagnosed and treated at an early stage.

For more information visit breastcancercare.org.uk, breastcancernow.org or www.cancerhelp.org.uk

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