Ali Bastian has revealed has revealed she is taking 'brutal' medication that has taken a 'toll' on her following her breast battle.
The former star, 44, was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer in 2024 and underwent gruelling chemotherapy and had a mastectomy.
She discovered she had cancer after finding a lump, which she thought was a blocked milk duct while she was feeding her daughter.
Ali revealed in March 2025 that she was cancer free but she is still taking medication to prevent the disease from returning.
Speaking to The Sun, she said: 'It's so brutal. It's a hell of a treatment pathway, and one you feel so conflicted about — you're so grateful it exists, but at the same time it really takes its toll on your body, your mind, everything.
'By the end of it, it's hard to even find the words. It just strips you back — everything about you. Cancer affects every facet of your life, your being, your identity.
Ali Bastian has revealed has revealed she is taking 'brutal' medication that has taken a 'toll' on her following her breast cancer battle
'I felt more broken down than I'd ever felt when I reached the end of chemo, and I had my mastectomy afterwards. I remember thinking, where am I in all of this? Who am I? You feel completely stripped back.'
Ali also discussed what her mental health was like during treatment, saying she was in 'absolute survival mode' because she had no other choice.
Ali said her husband David, their two children, and the rest of her family and friends got her through the treatment.
Last year, the actress said her body was 'under construction' as she weighed up undergoing reconstruction surgery.
Speaking to Giovanna Fletcher on her Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast, Ali said: 'I couldn't have a reconstruction at the time because we always knew I'd have to have radiotherapy. At some point there'll be some kind of something.
'Initially I was like 100 per cent it's happening. But now, I want to have the conversations and talk through what the options are, but I'm not actually married to any of them at the moment.'
Giovanna, 41, asked Ali how she handled her recovery so far, which she answered: 'In some ways better than I would have imagined actually, even the sort of gearing up for a mastectomy.
'I've got a really good prosthetic that makes a big difference. It means in clothes I feel normal. It's bright pink. It makes me happy.
The former Hollyoaks star, 44, was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer in 2024 and underwent gruelling chemotherapy and had a mastectomy
'It's just very different to the lump of silicone that you get handed in the hospital, which is a hell of a moment.
'This is a lot lighter and easy to wear. I quite like that it doesn't look like a chicken fillet, like a pretend boob.
'It's something that I could show the kids as well because it's so visually appealing.
'It was one of those little bridging things. I just keep saying to myself really "I'm still under construction, I've been through a lot, I'm healing at the moment".'
