Strictly Star Alex Kingston Reveals She Missed Uterine Cancer Warning Signs
Acclaimed actress Alex Kingston, known for her roles in Doctor Who and ER, has candidly discussed overlooking the early symptoms of uterine cancer before her diagnosis. The 62-year-old star, who competed on Strictly Come Dancing last year, admitted she initially dismissed bodily changes as normal ageing.
Overlooking Symptoms and Diagnosis Journey
In an interview with Prima magazine, Kingston explained that she failed to recognise the signs her body was signalling. "I hadn't realised that uterine cancer was a cancer that didn't get much airtime," she stated. "I think it's probably because on the whole, it is a cancer where if you recognise something is wrong, your body is able to tell you. And if it's caught early enough, it is survivable."
Kingston attributed symptoms like bloating, weight gain, and slow-healing injuries to her age, thinking they were part of being in her sixties. It was only during a stage performance when she began haemorrhaging that she sought medical attention, though she initially suspected a burst fibroid rather than cancer. The diagnosis came as a shock, leading to a hysterectomy and radiation therapy last year.
Decision to Speak Out Publicly
The actress kept her cancer private for a long time, feeling hesitant to discuss it during her Strictly journey. "I'm quite a private person and I felt, 'Why should I talk about my cancer?'" she shared. "On Strictly, I thought 'I don't want my journey to be about my sickness'. I wanted it to be about going forwards and life affirmation."
However, Kingston changed her mind after receiving responses from the public, realising the importance of raising awareness. "If nothing else, it's important to encourage people that if their body is behaving in a slightly unusual way, don't just write it off as being old or suddenly becoming gluten intolerant," she emphasised. "It could be something else and to go and have it checked. So I feel now that it was a good thing that I opened up about it."
Addressing Craig Revel Horwood's Comments
Kingston also used the interview to address remarks from Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood, who described her Halloween week salsa performance as resembling a woman going through "a midlife crisis." She revealed she was unaware of the critique and subsequent backlash at the time.
"It was a little mean-spirited for Craig to say that," Kingston remarked. "I just felt like it's exactly the opposite of what I'm trying to advocate. It's like, no, if you want to dance and swing a devil's tail around and you're in your 90s, do it. I mean, this is your life. So live it!"
Embracing Age and Individuality
Reflecting on ageing, Kingston expressed her philosophy of living in the moment and rejecting societal norms. "I've never spent time thinking about my age. I know I'm getting older, but I do try to just live in the moment," she said. "I've never felt like I have to subscribe to the norms or the rules that have been set about how one should behave at a certain age."
She applies this mindset to her personal style and daily life, emphasising self-expression over conformity. "I've always found my own style, which is an expression of me and who I am. In a sense, I've also applied that to how I live day to day and to ageing," Kingston concluded.
