Zoe Winters explains how to check for breast cancer
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In the video posted to Instagram, Samantha Womack shared her latest health update, stating that she has had a lumpectomy and her lymph node has been removed. “I’m going to start my first session of chemotherapy tomorrow,” she revealed, referencing Friday, October 7. The former EastEnders actress, best known as Ronnie Mitchell, first told fans of her breast cancer diagnosis on August 9, 2022.
It was on that date when Womack paid tribute to the late Olivia Newton-John, who had passed away from the deadly disease, prompting her to share about her own fight with cancer.
“Thank you to everyone who has been sending me love after I shared my story about battling with breast cancer,” Womack said in her latest video.
“I have read all your stories and messages; they’ve blown me away, genuinely. I just wanted to say thank you.
“I am very humbled by the fact that everyone has reached out and yeah, so, I’ll keep you posted.
“Just a huge thank you, sending you all lots of love.”
Chemotherapy
“Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment where medicine is used to kill cancer cells,” the NHS explains.
While there are many different types of chemotherapy medicine, they all work in a similar way.
They stop cancer cells reproducing, which prevents the tumour from growing in size and spreading elsewhere in the body.
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Chemotherapy can be used as a precautionary measure to attack cancer cells that could be at risk of spreading.
While chemotherapy is effective at killing cancer cells, it may damage some healthy cells in the body.
As such, there might be unpleasant side effects, which can range from nausea and tiredness, to hair loss and a sore mouth.
Some people might experience dry, sore, or itchy skin, diarrhoea, or constipation.
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A post shared by Sam Womack (@samzjanus)
“Many of these side effects can be treated or prevented and most, if not all, will pass after treatment stops,” the NHS adds.
A lumpectomy
Cancer Research UK stated that a lumpectomy is when a cancerous lesion is removed from the breast.
Surgeons try to leave behind as much normal breast tissue as possible; the procedure is typically followed by radiotherapy.
It is also typical for some or all of the lymph node in the armpit to be removed for testing in a laboratory.
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A post shared by Sam Womack (@samzjanus)
The procedure will leave scars, but they will fade over time, which will make them less visible.
Radiotherapy
“Radiotherapy is a treatment where radiation is used to kill cancer cells,” the NHS explains.
Radiotherapy can also lead to side effects such as: sore, red skin; tiredness; nausea; hair loss in the area being treated; and losing your appetite.
As with chemotherapy, most of these side effects will pass after treatment stops.
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