Beverley Callard has revealed she is having surgery on Friday to remove two lymph nodes amid her breast cancer battle.
The Coronation Street legend, 68, received news of her diagnosis just after she relocated to Dublin having scooped a role on Irish soap opera Fair City. She announced the news earlier this month.
Beverley, who is best known for her role as Liz McDonald in the ITV sofa, reassured fans that the cancer was caught early, but said she would need to return to the UK for radiotherapy and surgery.
Lymph nodes are removed after a breast cancer diagnosis because cells that move beyond the breast often get trapped in the underarm.
On Friday, the actress filmed a video from Norfolk And Norwich Hospital and told her Instagram followers she was preparing to go in for surgery.
She said: 'Update for anyone else who is about to go through it. I'm at the hospital, it's the big day which I'm glad about. I'm ready, I'm strong, I feel fine. [Her husband] Jon's had to go home, they sent him home.
Beverley Callard has revealed she is having surgery on Friday to remove two lymph nodes amid her breast cancer battle
The Coronation Street legend, 68, (pictured on the show) received news of her diagnosis just after she relocated to Dublin having scooped a role on Irish soap opera Fair City
'There's a few other ladies here with me, we've had a chat. They've been in and drawn all over me and then I have to go for an injection in an hour and then the anaesthetist came in, Peter. I'm feeling OK.
'Sometimes, you get these self-indulgent feelings and vanity but I'm not alone. This other lady said she's the same.
'I keep thinking, will I be lopsided? What will I wear? But I'm really good, I'm really strong and I'll let you know how it goes.'
In a post on Thursday, Beverley wrote: 'Another update to let you all know what is going on. I went to the hospital this morning and they wanted to talk to me about the lymph nodes and lymph glands...
'They are pretty sure that it is not in the lymph nodes, but they are going to take two out on Friday when I have the operation to make sure...
'It's quite a big operation I'm having, but I trust them completely. I have to tell you about the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital all NHS, obviously and they are truly amazing...
'They spent ages with me and with every other patient as well. And what is great is you can sit there chatting to other people who are going through what you are going through and obviously, some of them are in a far worse position than me...
'So I thank my lucky stars. The world is full of really strong women, that is for sure. So go tomorrow to get through.
On Friday, the actress filmed a video from Norfolk And Norwich Hospital and told her Instagram followers she was preparing to go in for surgery
Beverley reassured fans that the cancer was caught early, but said she would need to return to the UK for radiotherapy and surgery
'The waiting is the worst bit, I have to tell you. The house is so clean because I can't stop thinking about things.
'So one more day tomorrow and then it's the operation. But I'm feeling strong and positive. And let me know if you are going through it and how you're feeling...
'Truly, your stories mean a great deal to me.'
The soap star has signed up to play Lily, the long-lost mother to already established Fair City character Gwen (Emily Lamey) on the RTÉ show.
Previously released promotional pictures show Beverley getting into character, with the star wearing a black leather jacket.
Another shows the actress dressed in a cream ruffled jacket and denim jumpsuit as she poses next to a 'Welcome to Carrigstown' sign.
Last month, Beverley was forced to hit back at claims she was on weight-loss jabs after showing off her slim frame.
In a video to fans addressing her weight loss, she said she has been 'working her a**e off' her whole life and has been heavily involved in fitness.
Beverley confirmed that her incredible physique was not because of 'any weight loss jabs' but was just her hard work.
She went on to say that she 'would not knock anybody' for using the jabs and urged people 'to do what they need to do'.
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and affects more than two MILLION women a year
What is breast cancer?
It comes from a cancerous cell which develops in the lining of a duct or lobule in one of the breasts.
When the breast cancer has spread into surrounding tissue it is called 'invasive'. Some people are diagnosed with 'carcinoma in situ', where no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobule.
Most cases develop in those over the age of 50 but younger women are sometimes affected. Breast cancer can develop in men, though this is rare.
Staging indicates how big the cancer is and whether it has spread. Stage 1 is the earliest stage and stage 4 means the cancer has spread to another part of the body.
The cancerous cells are graded from low, which means a slow growth, to high, which is fast-growing. High-grade cancers are more likely to come back after they have first been treated.
What causes breast cancer?
A cancerous tumour starts from one abnormal cell. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. It is thought that something damages or alters certain genes in the cell. This makes the cell abnormal and multiply 'out of control'.
Although breast cancer can develop for no apparent reason, there are some risk factors that can increase the chance, such as genetics.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast, although most are not cancerous and are fluid-filled cysts, which are benign.
The first place that breast cancer usually spreads to is the lymph nodes in the armpit. If this occurs you will develop a swelling or lump in an armpit.
How is breast cancer diagnosed?
- Initial assessment: A doctor examines the breasts and armpits. They may do tests such as a mammogram, a special X-ray of the breast tissue which can indicate the possibility of tumours.
- Biopsy: A biopsy is when a small sample of tissue is removed from a part of the body. The sample is then examined under a microscope to look for abnormal cells. The sample can confirm or rule out cancer.
If you are confirmed to have breast cancer, further tests may be needed to assess if it has spread. For example, blood tests, an ultrasound scan of the liver or a chest X-ray.
How is breast cancer treated?
Treatment options which may be considered include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment. Often a combination of two or more of these treatments are used.
- Surgery: Breast-conserving surgery or the removal of the affected breast depending on the size of the tumour.
- Radiotherapy: A treatment which uses high energy beams of radiation focused on cancerous tissue. This kills cancer cells, or stops them from multiplying. It is mainly used in addition to surgery.
- Chemotherapy: A treatment of cancer by using anti-cancer drugs which kill cancer cells, or stop them from multiplying.
- Hormone treatments: Some types of breast cancer are affected by the 'female' hormone oestrogen, which can stimulate the cancer cells to divide and multiply. Treatments which reduce the level of these hormones, or prevent them from working, are commonly used in people with breast cancer.
How successful is treatment?
The outlook is best in those who are diagnosed when the cancer is still small, and has not spread. Surgical removal of a tumour in an early stage may then give a good chance of cure.
The routine mammography offered to women between the ages of 50 and 71 means more breast cancers are being diagnosed and treated at an early stage.
For more information visit breastcancernow.org or call its free helpline on 0808 800 6000
