Following a terrible ordeal with the illness, Victoria Ekanoye has made an important plea about the disease. The actress, who once played Angie Appleton in Coronation Street, found a lump in her breast less than a year after giving birth to her son, Theo, in 2021.
Initial examinations indicated she was completely untreated despite a long family history of cancer. But being ‘her mother’s daughter’ with a strong gut instinct, Victoria was adamant that something was off – and that’s when she found another lump.
In an exclusive interview with the Mirror, the 43-year-old said, “It was definitely a period of time where a million other things were going on in my mind.” “I didn’t even I didn’t want to think about it being breast cancer.
When I was on set for Death in Paradise, I noticed a second lump in the same breast while I was just adjusting my microphone because they kind of obscure it on various parts of your clothing.
At the time, I “was obviously scared but also really angry because I simply thought, “Well, what position am I in now?” Do I go back, or is it just more of what they think? ‘
“Because they believed it might be mastitis and calcification brought on by blocked milk ducts and other similar things. So I was forced to kind of sneak myself into the room and say, “Look, there’s nothing you can do about it right now.
“You’re here to do a job. You need to keep your mother and son safe while you’re here. Do what you need to do first, then return to your home and take action. “
Victoria asked for a more thorough physical examination, including an ultrasound, a mammogram, and a biopsy of both lumps, with a doctor she described as the “best GP she’s ever had.” Additionally, these additional examinations revealed a third lump in her armpit, which the medical staff was unhappy with.
“So, she said, ‘I’m not happy with what I’m seeing. So, I really believe that you should come back in a week and bring someone along at this time. Now, like I said our family for whatever reason, has been plagued by cancer. I’ve heard the phrase “to bring someone with you” many times before. “
As requested, Victoria returned the following week with her husband Jonathan. He was in good spirits at the time, and he assumed their son, who was only nine months old, was breastfeeding.
But Victoria was more apprehensive. She continued: “I guess, you know, part of what I do for a living is we have to look at people’s micro-expressions and body language and pick up these things, as an actress. And as soon as [the doctor] walked through the door, I knew what she was going to say and I was holding Johnny’s hand.
“She came in, she kind of spoke about a few things. She was trying to softly introduce her presence into the room, but she was not avoiding it because she knew she had to [say something]… And [she was] like, ‘Okay, look, I’m not gonna beat around the bush, we have found cancerous cells’.
And I just felt him slouching next to him, and I felt bad because you feel bad for bringing all this stress, worry, and pain to those you love and care about, even though it’s not your fault and you don’t blame yourself. “
Victoria’s frightening ordeal comes amidst 56,822 new cases of breast cancer every year, according to Cancer Research statistics. It accounts for 30% of all new female cancer cases, making up one of the most prevalent types of cancer right now in the UK.
Due to her diagnosis, Victoria wanted a double mastectomy, a surgical procedure that removes both breasts. However, getting there was not always simple because she needed a complete blood transfusion in advance.
Because of her involvement in sickle cell disease, an inherited life-long condition that affects red blood cells, Victoria also struggles with it. It can cause serious health issues, such as brain damage and organ damage, in some cases.
“I was diagnosed in October, and I had my surgery in December,” the star, from Bury, Greater Manchester, continued. “By that point, it had gotten to my lymph nodes and it had become invasive,” said one patient, “had I not gone [to the doctors]… It would have been in and around my body, probably setting up camp elsewhere, if it had become invasive. “
Fast forward to February of this year, and Victoria was delighted to learn that she had successfully overcome cancer. She is now eager to keep raising awareness of the disease and is urging people to do one thing as a patron of Prevent Breast Cancer.
“The the biggest part for me is, it’s not about not listening to the doctors,” she said. “It’s about listening to yourself and your body, being body aware, checking yourself regularly, making a little diary just once a month.
We consistently schedule appointments. We make dinner dates, catch up with friends. However, having a full body check for yourself once a month is the most important date on your calendar to put it on.
“Is anything different? Does anything not feel right? And if there is something, then just go get it checked out. That’s what the doctors are there for we’re not bothering them. We’re not wasting their time. “
A documentary about breast cancer and the disparities in healthcare is currently being finalized by Victoria. She’s filmed across Nigeria, South Africa, the US and the UK, with a specific focus on the experiences of Black women and institutionalised racism.
“So it’s called Shades of Survival,” she said. “It’s for everyone, really. It’s about breast cancer, it’s about the disparities in healthcare. It’s about the health inequity, it’s about resilience, hope, shame sometimes.
There is a lot of shame associated with breast cancer in some communities because it connotes being “less of a woman,” which is obviously devastating for the woman. Never mind what the local community thinks. “
Reflecting on her experience, she added: “I think the need to protect people makes you a little bit stoic in the moment, but in all honesty, I would have been completely broken if I didn’t have the support network that I have, and had at the time. My partner, Jonathan, has been an absolute rock. “
Source: Mirror
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