Former EastEnders star Samantha Womack has opened up about a profoundly difficult period in her life, revealing that the death of her cherished dog Lola became the catalyst for a major life change, prompting her relocation to Spain to concentrate on her health following a breast cancer diagnosis.
A Devastating Double Blow
The actress, best known for playing Ronnie Mitchell, faced two traumatic events in quick succession during 2022. First, she received a diagnosis of an aggressive, high-grade breast cancer. Merely a month later, her beloved rescue dog Lola, whom she had brought home from Goa in 2019, passed away. Womack describes that day, which coincided with the death of Queen Elizabeth II, as one of the worst of her life.
The Turning Point
In a candid interview with the Sunday Times, the 53-year-old explained that losing Lola had a more profound emotional impact than the initial cancer diagnosis. "I’d just been diagnosed with breast cancer and losing Lola was probably worse for me than the breast cancer diagnosis. It made everything seem real," she confessed. This heartbreaking loss became the pivotal moment that compelled her to reassess her priorities.
"That was when I decided to stop working and focus on getting better," Womack stated. "If I hadn’t lost Lola, I wouldn’t have gone back to Valencia and taken a year off to really try to work on my body and get better, so Lola changed the course of my life."
Navigating Treatment and Tribute
Despite the shock of her diagnosis, which came from a routine check-up, Womack continued to perform in West End productions including The Girl On The Train and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe during her treatment. She underwent both chemotherapy and radiotherapy, describing the process as a "rollercoaster" of unfamiliar medical terms and strange bodily sensations.
A New Canine Companion
Following Lola's death, Womack welcomed a new podenco dog named Xena, whom she calls a "warrior princess." She explained that Xena was both a celebration of Lola's life and a symbol of the strength she needed during her own recovery battle. The actress, who has five other dogs—three of them rescues—shared a heartfelt tribute to Lola on Instagram at the time, writing: "My heart is broken. My soulmate Lola. Cannot cope with losing you, not now..."
A Timely Diagnosis and Recovery
Womack's cancer was discovered early during a scan that revealed a suspicious shadow. "In my brain, I did think, 'there you are'. I do feel like somewhere in our brains, our intuition is important. I've learnt to listen to that voice in my head as it basically saved my life," she reflected. Fortunately, she received the all-clear just five months after her diagnosis, though she acknowledges the disease could have been fatal if detected any later.
The actress had publicly acknowledged her diagnosis a month before Lola's passing, paying tribute to Grease star Olivia Newton-John, who died from breast cancer complications. Womack's own journey underscores the critical importance of early detection and listening to one's body, a message that resonates deeply as breast cancer remains one of the most common cancers worldwide, affecting tens of thousands in the UK annually.
