BRAVE STAR
EastEnders’ Cheryl Fergison give health update after cancer diagnosis as she reveals crippling new battle
Cheryl was supported by Steve McFadden and the late Dame Barbara Windsor
EASTENDERS legend Cheryl Fergison has revealed a new crippling health battle after she was diagnosed with womb cancer.
The actress, who played Heather Trott in the BBC soap for five years, found out she had the disease nine years ago.
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Cheryl, who finally got the all clear last year, said the impact of the diagnosis resulted in her developing a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
The 58-year-old TV star joined ITV's Loose Women on Wednesday and recalled how the terrifying ordeal had impacted her mental health.
Panellist Kelle Bryan asked: "As you so bravely opened up about the psychological side of cancer, which we don't often talk about.
"You got into a hand washing routine."
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Cheryl explained: "It was washing bits of my body, trying to wash it away.
"We all try and control our own body in some way, but actually sometimes we can harm ourselves by trying to do something, than actually getting the help.
"It wasn't everyday but it was continuous over a period of years and it would stop.
"My husband and son would help me out and periods of times I would stop.
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"Putting on a brave face for the general public out there, carrying on daily life...knowing I was actually hurting and harming myself in some way.
"But I think you need to get to the root of the problem, there is not enough groups of people in communities sitting down talking about this.
"We know there is no money in the NHS - but we can all try as a community to help each other and work out the problems."
EastEnders legend reveals secret cancer battle and says diagnosis was 'like an out of body experience'
During her health battle, Cheryl was supported by co-stars Dame Barbara Windsor and Steve McFadden.
She continued: "I've had loads of support from my family, my lovely husband, my son.
"Steve McFadden, Barbara Windsor, Linda Henry, Paul O'Grady...everybody who knew was just amazing."
Late Barbara, who played Queen Vic matriarch Peggy Mitchell, supported Cheryl financially.
At the time, Cheryl was experiencing some money troubles and kind Babs insisted on helping out with the bills, leaving the grateful star in tears.
Cheryl, who is mum to son Alex, 16, from her first marriage, had a smear test which came back clear before she began experiencing back pain and blood spotting.
It prompted her to go for a check up and, four months after having a biopsy, Cheryl was told she had stage 2 womb cancer.
Cheryl underwent a hysterectomy, robbing her of the chance of having another child, and she told how the disease brought upon early menopause.
It affected how she saw herself as a woman with Cheryl calling it an "horrendous time".
There were times when she questioned if she would survive the illness.
She told the Mirror: "Yes, there were some dark moments when I thought: ‘am I going to die?’ Am I going to leave my husband without a wife, my son without a mum? But I am strong and I’d knock those thoughts away. I was determined that it wasn’t going to beat me.”
Cheryl finally got the all clear last year and is now urging women to listen to their bodies and investigate anything that doesn't feel right.
Womb cancer is the fourth most common type of the disease in women in the UK.
But worryingly, many have no idea what the most common symptoms are, meaning it's often found at a late stage.
Almost 10,000 people are diagnosed every year. Around 2,500 die.
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Of those told they have womb cancer early, 90 per cent survive.
But only one in five patients will live beyond five years if it isn't detected until the disease is in an advanced stage.
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