EastEnders star Heather Peace has opened up about her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in a candid interview on ITV's Lorraine. The actress, who plays Eve Unwin on the BBC soap, revealed she was diagnosed in October 2024 while filming a major storyline for her character.
Diagnosis and Decision to Keep Working
Heather discovered she had breast cancer the night before starting a new block of filming for Eve and her onscreen partner Suki Panesar's (Balvinder Sopal) wedding storyline. "It was the night before we started the block that I found out," she told Lorraine Kelly. "At that point, I just thought I wanted to finish the story so if things had gone badly wrong, we had kind of put a full stop."
Insisting it was her choice to continue working throughout her treatment, she praised the BBC for their support. "It was my choice," she said. "The days that I was there were the days that were the easiest because everyone makes you laugh, it's a real family feel and I didn't want to be at home."
Emotional Impact on Family
Heather, who has an 11-year-old daughter and nine-year-old twins, spoke about the challenge of maintaining composure in front of her children. "The only thing was I couldn't allow myself to break down in front of them… I used to use the shower for that, it's tricky because their world is falling apart as well." She and her wife, who has also battled breast cancer, supported each other through the ordeal. "We showed up for each other, and I think being able to prove that in sickness and in health, we did it. She showed up for me and I showed up for her, it made us stronger, it's been really tough on the kids."
Health Update and Warning to Women
Heather revealed she noticed a change in her nipple while taking photos for a no-sugar diet. "I found out because I was doing a no-sugar diet and was taking pictures of myself to watch my progress, it was because my nipple looked different, that's how I worked it out, I was like, that doesn't look like me." She urged women to check themselves regularly, especially in the shower.
Host Lorraine described Heather's cancer as "aggressive," but the actress remained positive. "I don't see myself as strong at all, I think it's about seeing the positives in the situation you're in." She added, "All the relationships in your life suddenly mean so much more." Heather is now on a couple of years of medication to flush her system, as the cancer was found in her lymph nodes.
Lorraine airs weekdays from 9.30am on ITV1 and ITVX. For more information and support, visit Macmillan.org.uk.
