Following the news of Denise Fox's blood cancer diagnosis, EastEnders fans are terrified the beloved character won't survive. Denise developed worrying health symptoms and went to the doctors for tests. On the day of Ross Marshall and Vicki Fowler's wedding, she was summoned to the hospital for a bone marrow aspirate test and learned she had AML, an aggressive form of blood cancer requiring urgent treatment.
The news knocked Denise for six, but she held off on treatment after grandson Jordan was knocked down by a car, wanting to be there for Chelsea. After Jack Branning had Phil Mitchell urge her to begin treatment, Denise broke down in the Vic and confided in her loved ones. Given her aggressive cancer, viewers are worried about her future.
The character was mentioned in the flashforward episode set in 2027 but not seen, confirming Denise will be alive until then. Actress Diane Parish, who has played Denise for 20 years, reflected on the diagnosis. 'There are many characters in this show and we just tell their stories. I see it like we're chess pieces on a board and we go with whatever the creators decide is best for the show,' she told TV Times.
Diane said she feels like she's had '100 different careers already from being in this show' and feels 'so grateful and proud to be a part of it.' She explained that Denise delayed treatment because she feared things would 'fall apart without her.' 'But now she's going to have to surrender herself to the people who are hopefully going to be able to save her life,' she added.
'There are ripples throughout the whole family. You see that this isn't just happening to Denise, it's happening to everyone else who loves her, too. They've all been thrown into this huge storm. I want everybody to look out for what's coming – because it's unexpected.'
As part of the storyline, Belinda Owusu has reprised her role as Libby Fox.
