EastEnders star Cheryl Fergison recently spoke up about why she “kept quiet” about her battle with cancer. The actress rocked her role as Heather Trott in the BBC One soap from 2007 to 2012. She got the shock of her lifetime when the diagnosis of Stage Two womb cancer came along in 2015. So, Cheryl stayed mum for years about her cancer battle before sharing her story publicly last month. Read on to know all about it!
EastEnders: Cheryl Fergison Opens Up About Her Cancer Battle
The EastEnders star appeared on Loose Women, where she explained her decision to keep her diagnosis private for so long. She said, “I kept it quiet for a long time because I had to process a lot of it.” Moreover, Fergison also sheds light on the financial pressures of being an actor. The work never stops – it’s all about a game of pretence! Cheryl added, “So, for us, you know, it was putting on a smile once I’d had the operation [and] keep getting well.”
Reflecting on her journey of recovery, the soap actress acknowledged the psychological toll of her diagnosis. There was a lot of stuff that was psychologically happening to her when the news of the diagnosis hit. It wasn’t until the end of last year that Cheryl felt ready to share her story and take a stand. Furthermore, Fergison felt like, “I need to just crack on.” She also emphasised the importance of raising awareness about women’s health.
For me, it’s about letting women know about what they should do with their bodies.” The EastEnders actor believes there’s a need for women to listen to their bodies. Thus, Cheryl decided to go public with her diagnosis to encourage other women. Fergison wants other women to take action and advocate for their health. “If I hadn’t acted on what was going on with me, I don’t feel like I would have been here today.”
Kudos to Cheryl for her courage and support and to all the incredible women battling cancer. Meanwhile, stay glued to TV Season & Spoilers to catch the latest tea on EastEnders celebs!