Lisa Faulkner has said she is "out the other side" of her breast cancer battle after completing radiotherapy, following an early-stage diagnosis discovered through a routine NHS mammogram in July.
The actress, who is married to former MasterChef star John Torode, shared the update during an appearance on the Full Disclosure podcast, where she also reflected on the death of her mother from cancer.
Diagnosis and treatment
Faulkner first revealed her diagnosis in an emotional social media post, telling fans she had undergone surgery to remove the tumour. At the time, the 54-year-old said: "It's all good, and I've had my results back, and they've got everything out, so it's all clear, and I just need now to have some radiotherapy in a few weeks."
She has since finished that course of treatment and described her current state on the podcast, saying: "I am out the other end. It's a weird thing because though I am out the other end, you're left with this anxiety that you'd never had before."
Reflections on her mother's death
Faulkner was 16 when her mother Julie died from cancer at the age of 44. Recalling that time, she said: "I remember going to see her, she had radiotherapy and we weren't allowed to go near her. So things have changed now because I was so worried that when I had radiotherapy that I couldn't be near Billie or anyone."
She shares adopted daughter Billie, 20, with her ex-husband Chris Coghill. Speaking about her recovery, Faulkner added: "It's really been strange, and I thought I would be 'Oh it's just a blip, and I'll be fine,' but it's taken me much longer than I thought it would, but I am better, and I am well, and I am so grateful to our health service, who are amazing. Really amazing."
Encouraging mammogram attendance
In her initial post about the diagnosis, the mother of one urged fans to attend their mammogram appointments, writing: "I just wanted to say I've got a bit of healing to do, but I'm good, I'm well and feeling so much better, and I'm so grateful that I went for my mammogram. Don't put them off - go! They found this, and without that mammogram, it wouldn't have been picked up."
She added: "And I want to say thank you to our wonderful NHS, and the fact that we can have these mammograms, get treatment early and treated quickly. I will see you all soon."
John stood by his wife throughout her diagnosis, treatment and eventual all-clear. Speaking on the Spooning With Mark Wogan podcast, he said: "Yeah, and it's brutal and, you know, as somebody once said, the cancer word comes up, and everything pales in significance, everything. It doesn't matter what goes on from now on, that's it. We're going to deal with this, and life will start all over again, and, you know, I've always been an optimist."
