Actress Ali Bastian has been diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, and she is presently having chemotherapy in order to get ready for radiotherapy and a mastectomy.
While nursing her daughter Isabella, the Hollyoaks star, known for her portrayal of teacher Becca Dean from 2001 to 2007, discovered a lump in her breast.
“There are mornings when I wake up and I’ve forgotten… and then suddenly it all comes rushing back,” Bastian, who is 42 years old, revealed in an interview with OK! magazine. She shared with the publication that the news she received in June was a complete surprise and left her in shock.” I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.
The actress relocated to West Cork, Ireland, earlier this year with her husband, actor, writer, and director David O’Mahony, and their two young daughters, four-year-old Isla and 19-month-old Izzy.
Bastian expressed her worry to the magazine about her daughter’s excessive feeding and the discomfort she experienced in her breast.
She mentioned that it was a bank holiday in Ireland, so she decided to go directly to the emergency doctor.
“It felt as though I had mastitis, especially since I had been night-weaning Izzy before that.” We suspected there might be a blocked duct. The doctor prescribed antibiotics and advised me to visit the breast clinic if my condition doesn’t improve within a few days.
“However, the situation did not improve, and as I continued to experience it, it became apparent that this was more than just a blocked duct. I visited my GP and requested to go to the clinic immediately. Thankfully, she was quite supportive of my decision.
Bastian also mentioned a challenging period where one receives a diagnosis but remains uncertain about what the future holds.
She remarked, “That’s when the challenging path of trust began for me. It’s not something that always comes easily to me, so I have to constantly remind myself to have faith in my team, have faith in the plan, and have faith that everything will turn out fine.
The actress expresses gratitude for the support she has received from her fellow Hollyoaks stars Sarah Jayne Dunn, Carley Stenson, and Jodi Albert.
Bastian mentioned that after receiving his diagnosis, he happened to come across a post on Instagram by his friend Dominic Power, who used to be his co-star in The Bill. In the post, Bastian noticed that Dominic was on set in Hollyoaks. I suddenly had a strong desire to engage in a scene with an actor and gaze into their eyes. I really miss it.”
The actress mentions that breast cancer is hormone-driven and that her maternal aunt and grandmother also had breast cancer.
She mentioned that she doesn’t want to alarm new mothers, but the condition can be more challenging to identify as the tissue simply has a distinct texture.
According to the NHS, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women.
According to Cancer Research UK, stage 2 breast cancer is an early stage of the disease and may be present in the breast, nearby lymph nodes, or both.
Bastian’s most notable Hollyoaks plotline involved her character being dismissed from her teaching position and incarcerated due to a romantic involvement with one of her students.
She has appeared in The Bill, A Touch Of Frost, and Cavegirl after transitioning from Hollyoaks. Additionally, she showcased her talent as a semi-finalist on Strictly Come Dancing in 2009, ultimately securing a commendable third-place finish.
Bastian tied the knot with O’Mahony in 2019 and made her debut on Doctors in the same year. However, she decided to leave the show after only one year to prioritise building a family.