The 42-year-old actress – who is best known for playing Becca Dean in the Channel 4 soap from 2001 to 2007 – has admitted she was in “total shock” when she heard the devastating news at the end of June.
Ali – who now lives in Ireland with her husband and two young daughters – is currently undergoing chemotherapy before undergoing a mastectomy and radiotherapy.
She told OK!: “It was a total shock.
(Image: Bang Showbiz)
“I have mornings where I wake up and I’ve forgotten… and then I suddenly remember. I’m still trying to process it.”
Ali was breastfeeding her youngest daughter, Isabella, 19 months, when she discovered a lump.
The mum-of-two – who also has four-year-old Isla with her husband – shared: “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 going through a growth spurt or something.’
“And because of that, my breasts were sore. The next morning, I woke up and thought, ‘Ouch, this really hurts.’ And that’s when I felt a lump.”
Ali assumed she had a “blocked duct” and was given a course of antibiotics, but it wasn’t going away, so on her doctor’s advice she headed to a breast clinic.
She continued: “It was a public holiday in Ireland so I went straight to the emergency doctor.
“It really looked like she had mastitis, especially since I had been night weaning Izzy before that. We thought she probably had a blocked duct.”
“The doctor gave me antibiotics and said that if it didn’t go away in a few days I should go to the breast clinic.
“But it wasn’t going away and the more I felt it, the more it seemed like this wasn’t just a blocked duct. I went to my GP and said, ‘Actually, can I go to the clinic now?’ and she was very supportive of that.”
Ali received the shocking news over the phone but was assured that they “intend to cure her.”
Explaining that the clinic was too far away to go for the diagnosis, she said: “We agreed that I would text him and then he would call me back. I could hear it in the tone of his voice, but he told me in the nicest way possible.
“She was very reassuring. She said the words I’m holding on to, which are ‘intended to heal me.’”
Doctors are convinced her cancer is “hormone-driven” and are doing further research to establish whether it is genetic, however her maternal aunt and grandmother also had breast cancer.
She is having a single mastectomy and is still waiting to find out if a double mastectomy is a good idea as a “preventative measure.”
The former ‘Doctors’ actress is also being seen by a psychologist specialising in oncology and has been assigned a mentor who has had cancer.
Ali has vowed to beat the disease and has every intention of returning to acting.
She added: “I will get through this and come out the other side.
“After my diagnosis, I went on Instagram and saw a post from my friend Dominic Power, my former co-star on The Bill, and I could see he was on the set of Hollyoaks. I suddenly had a real desire to, ‘I want to look into an actor’s eyes and do a scene.’
“I really miss him.”
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Hollyoaks Star Ali Bastian Diagnosed with Stage 2 Breast Cancer
In a shocking turn of events, Hollyoaks actress Ali Bastian, 42, has been diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer after discovering a lump while breastfeeding her 19-month-old daughter, Isabella [[1][2][3]].
The actress, who played Becca Dean in the Channel 4 soap from 2001 to 2007, is currently undergoing chemotherapy and is scheduled to undergo a mastectomy and radiotherapy to treat her cancer.
Ali shared her story, saying she was in “total shock” when she heard the devastating news over the phone at the end of June. She explained that she initially thought the lump was a blocked duct, but after being given antibiotics and seeing no improvement, she sought further advice and was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer [[1][2]].
Ali’s journey to diagnosis began when she noticed her breasts were sore while breastfeeding her daughter. She assumed it was due to a blocked duct and was given antibiotics, but as the lump persisted, she sought further medical attention. After a trip to the emergency doctor and a breast clinic, Ali received the shocking news that she had breast cancer[[[[[[[[[3]].
The actress has spoken candidly about her experience, saying she has ”mornings where I wake up and I’ve forgotten… and then I suddenly remember. I’m still trying to process it.” She has found comfort in the words of her doctor, who reassured her that they “intend to cure her” [[1]].
Doctors believe Ali’s cancer is “hormone-driven” and are conducting further research to determine if it is genetic. Unfortunately, breast cancer runs in Ali’s family, with her maternal aunt and grandmother also having been diagnosed with the disease [[1]].
Ali’s treatment plan includes chemotherapy, followed by a single mastectomy and radiotherapy. She is still waiting to find out if a double mastectomy is necessary [[1]].
Ali’s bravery in sharing her story serves as a reminder of the importance of breast cancer awareness and the need for early detection. If you or someone you know has been affected by breast cancer, please seek medical attention immediately.
Stay tuned for further updates on Ali’s journey and please share your support for this brave actress.
References:
What are the symptoms and signs of breast cancer that new mothers should watch for?
Hollyoaks Star Ali Bastian Diagnosed with Stage 2 Breast Cancer
In a shocking turn of events, Hollyoaks actress Ali Bastian, 42, has been diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer after discovering a lump while breastfeeding her 19-month-old daughter, Isabella [[1][2][3]]
