Victoria Ekanoye opened up about her breast cancer diagnosis on Loose Women on Tuesday.
The actress, who played Angie Appleton in Coronation Street, found a lump the size of a frozen pea while breastfeeding her six-month-old son in 2021.
The 42-year-old then underwent a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with ductal carcinoma, a type of breast cancer, in the same location.
Victoria currently stars in ITV series The Real Full Monty alongside Coleen Nolan and appeared on Loose Women to talk about her battle with cancer.
Speaking to Coleen, Ruth Langsford, Janet Street-Porter and Linda Robson, she confessed that her son had saved her life: “I really believe that, I believe that Theo saved my life because if I hadn't breastfed him , I might not have found it.” .'
Coronation Street actress Victoria Ekanoye, 42, revealed on Loose Women on Tuesday that she discovered a breast cancer lump while breastfeeding her six-month-old son Theo in 2021
The actress, who played Angie Appleton on the soap, found a lump the size of a frozen pea while breastfeeding her baby son in 2021 and said: “It saved my life.”
She explained her diagnosis: “So my son Theo was six months old and I was breastfeeding him when I discovered a lump.”
“It's easy to assume that these changes are due to pregnancy or breastfeeding, and I wanted that to be the case, but I am now the fifth person in my family to have breast cancer and the ninth three suffering from some form of cancer.'Generations.'
“It took two days, which was a long time for me, to get help and frustratingly I needed three opinions to get my diagnosis.”
“It frustrates me because someone else might just take that first opinion and run for the hills with joy.”
When Coleen asked how she knew the first opinion was wrong, she said: “I just knew my body.” “I have sickle cell anemia so I have to be very careful about my body anyway and in that moment I was just constantly worried aware of everything that was going on.”
After giving birth to her son, Victoria explained that she was on high alert given the changes in her body and knew something was wrong.
“It just didn't feel right.” It felt like a frozen pea or chickpea, and I really believe that. I think Theo saved my life because if I hadn't breastfed him I might not have found it.
'As [the breasts] “Filled with milk, they get bigger and the lump is pushed to the surface, and you could just see it, you didn't even have to look for it.”
Victoria currently stars in ITV series The Real Full Monty alongside Coleen Nolan and appeared on Loose Women ahead of the show's final on Tuesday to talk about her battle with cancer
“I really believe that, I think Theo saved my life because if I hadn't breastfed him I might not have found it.”
Victoria also commented on her diagnosis: “Frustratingly, it took three opinions to get my diagnosis.” It frustrates me because someone else might just take that first opinion and run for the hills for joy.
When Coleen asked how she knew the first opinion was wrong, she said: “But I just knew my body.” I have sickle cell anemia so I have to be very careful about my body anyway and in that moment I was constantly worried everything was clear about what was going on.
The star explained that as the milk filled her breasts, it pushed the lump to the surface and she ended up being able to see it without looking for it
Examining your breasts should be part of your monthly routine to ensure you notice any unusual changes. Simply rub and feel around your breast tissue from top to bottom in a semicircle and circular motion to detect any abnormalities
When Victoria informed the hosts about her cancer journey, she revealed that only a very small number of tumor cells were circulating in her body.
“I haven't told you this yet, but I'm fine!” They gave me medication instead of chemotherapy because chemotherapy was more life-threatening because of my sickle cell anemia.
“The side effect of this is that I'm going through menopause now, which is really fun with a toddler,” she joked.
“So I had an incredible, groundbreaking blood test to see if there were any tumor cells from breast cancer still circulating in my body, and there is, but it's a very small amount that can be treated.” I hope so There is no chemotherapy because of all the side effects.
“But the most important thing for me now is to know because it happens at a molecular level. “It's not something you would see on a scan, an ultrasound or a mammogram, it's not something you can feel.”
Coleen asked, “So you understood it well in advance?”
Victoria said: “Yes, I'm waiting for the results to come back because I've done another series of tests and when they come back I'll know. “I think it's the not knowing and the loss of control…”
Coleen said to Victoria: “Can I just say, everyone.” [The Real Full Monty] was great but Victoria, I have to say this because I don't think I say it enough, you are one of the most positive people but also one of the kindest souls I have ever met in my life.
“I tell everyone I meet about you: you're so nice, you never had a bad word to say, you never complained.”
“During filming she became very ill [The Real Full Monty] and was in the hospital for nine days, and all she could think about was calling us and saying, 'I'm so sorry I let you down, I'll be back.' And she never complained!'
Victoria stars in The Real Full Monty alongside Gemma Collins, Vanessa Bauer, Julia Bradbury, Pete Wicks, Ben Cohen, Paul Burrell and Ashley Cain as they raise awareness for life-saving cancer screenings
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, affecting more than two MILLION women every year
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. There are more than 55,000 new cases in the UK every year and the disease claims the lives of 11,500 women. In the United States, it affects 266,000 people each year and kills 40,000. But what causes it and how can it be treated?
What is breast cancer?
It comes from a cancer cell that develops in the lining of a milk duct, or lobe, in one of the breasts.
If the breast cancer has spread into the surrounding tissue, it is said to be “invasive”. Some people are diagnosed with “carcinoma in situ,” in which no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobe.
Most cases occur in people over 50, although younger women are sometimes affected. Breast cancer can develop in men, although this is rare.
Staging provides information about 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 cancer cells are graded from “low” (slow growth) to “high” (fast growth). High-grade cancers are more likely to come back after the first treatment.
What causes breast cancer?
A cancerous tumor arises from an abnormal cell. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. Something is thought to damage or alter certain genes in the cell. This causes the cell to become abnormal and multiply “out of control”.
Although breast cancer can develop for no apparent reason, there are some risk factors that can increase the risk, such as genetics.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast, although most are noncancerous and are fluid-filled cysts that are benign.
The first place breast cancer usually spreads is the lymph nodes in the armpit. In this case, a swelling or lump occurs in the armpit.
How is breast cancer diagnosed?
- Initial assessment: A doctor examines the breasts and armpits. They may do tests such as a mammogram, a special X-ray of breast tissue that may indicate the possibility of tumors.
- Biopsy: A biopsy involves taking a small sample of tissue from a part of the body. The sample is then examined under a microscope to look for abnormal cells. The sample can confirm or rule out cancer.
If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, you may need further tests to see if the cancer has spread. For example, blood tests, an ultrasound scan of the liver or a chest x-ray.
How is breast cancer treated?
Treatment options that may be considered include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone treatment. A combination of two or more of these treatments is often used.
- Surgery: Breast-conserving surgery or removal of the affected breast, depending on the size of the tumor.
- Radiation therapy: A treatment that focuses high-energy rays on cancerous tissue. This kills cancer cells or stops them from multiplying. It is mainly used as a supplement to surgery.
- Chemotherapy: A treatment for cancer using anticancer drugs that kill cancer cells or prevent them from multiplying.
- Hormone treatments: Some types of breast cancer are influenced by the “female” hormone estrogen, which can stimulate cancer cells to divide and multiply. Treatments that lower levels of these hormones or prevent them from working are often used in breast cancer patients.
How successful is the treatment?
The best prospects are those who are diagnosed when the cancer is small and has not spread. Surgical removal of a tumor at an early stage can then offer good chances of recovery.
Routine mammography, offered to women between the ages of 50 and 70, means more breast cancers are diagnosed and treated early.
For more information visit breastcancernow.org or call the free hotline on 0808 800 6000