The actress took to her social media to give followers an update on her breast cancer journey
Former Hollyoaks star Ali Bastian revealed that she is ‘cancer free’ in an emotional health update.
The former Hollyoaks, Doctors and The Bill actress announced last year that she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer after finding a lump while breastfeeding her daughter, Isabella.
Previously speaking to OK!, the 43-year-old actress shared: “It was a total shock. I have mornings when I wake up and I’ve forgotten… and then suddenly I remember. I’m still trying to process it.
“I hadn’t been breastfeeding Izzy at night but then David flew back to London for work and suddenly she was feeding like crazy. I was thinking, ‘Maybe she’s having a growth spurt or something.’ And because of that, my boobs felt sore. The next morning I woke up and thought, ‘Ouch, this really hurts.’ And that’s when I felt a lump.”
She continued: “It was a bank holiday in Ireland so I went straight to the emergency doctor.” The actress assumed it was mastitis, but after cancerous cells were found in a biopsy she admitted: “When you get a diagnosis, it can feel like your life is out of control. Exercise helps me feel like I have some agency over my body.”
The 2009 Strictly Come Dancing semi-finalist shares another daughter, Isla Rose, with actor, writer and director husband David O’Mahony, who she married in 2019.
On Tuesday, she took to her Instagram account and posted a carousel of head shots as she wrote: “I wanted to update you all. I’m on to my final week of radio therapy which should mark the end my active treatment – I hope and pray for good!
“I had my mastectomy in January which was thankfully a success and has healed really well, it proved that my chemo had worked. As I sit here right now, I’m free from Cancer. I can’t even believe it.”
The British star, who lives in West Cork, Ireland, with her husband David O’Mahony, thanked the nurses at Cork University Hospital who gave her “compassion, time and space to share and talk about my experience of a very challenging treatment pathway” which she called “an awful lot to process mentally and emotionally”.
Ali added: “To be coming out of the other side of this feels unreal, after the shock of a diagnosis it’s hard to let in the light and believe that it might just be ok,
“The road back to my life won’t be a linear one… and I will share with you as always, as much of my truth of this experience as I can. I am so, so grateful for all of your support.”
She finished her post: “People with cancer, experiencing cancer treatment need love. Full stop. Unconditional, arms around you love and support. I’ve really felt that from you all, also in my day to day life… from the most unexpected of places. When it’s dark, look for stars.”
