Former Coronation Street star Ellie Leach has revealed that she recently had a cancer scare and documented the entire process in a new video where she urged fans to go for their smear test
Coronation Street’s Ellie Leach has shared that she recently had a cancer scanre (Image: ellielouiseleach/Tiktok)
Coronation Street star Ellie Leach has revealed that she recently had a cancer scare. The actress, 25, who is best known for having played Faye Windass on the ITV soap, took to social media to reveal that she had been for a smear test several weeks ago, and further action was needed.
Initially, Ellie’s results showed that she was HPV positive, which she told her followers was “really common,” but the tests also revealed that she had “severe high grade changes” in her cell and she had to go for a colposcopy so that medics could take a closer look at her cervix before another procedure was deemed necessary.
In one of the updates that formed part of a lengthy video posted to Instagram, Ellie explained: “I had my results, I had my appointment a week ago and I’ve already had my results back which is great, so the consultant said that it does look like that I will have to have the LLETZ. I think it stands for Large Loop Excision of a Transformation Zone.
“So the cells in my cervix are high-grade. So I will have to have that done. I think it’s like a heated wire and they burn off the cells that are pre-cancerous in your cervix so yeah, it sounds really uncomfortable and I’m not looking forward to it but I do need to have it done because if I did leave it, they would potentially turn into cancer in a couple of years.”
In another update, the former Strictly Come Dancing winner gave more detail about the procedure itself as she shared how it had all gone and recalled breaking down in tears in front of the nurse, who rushed to comfort her.
She said: “I’m home now, it was fine, it was just really uncomfortable when they put the anaesthetic in. They just used the speculum, what they use for the smear test, put the anaesthetic in the cervix, use a loop wire and burn off the cells. Obviously, they use the anaesthetic because it’s a hot wire so I couldn’t feel that but it was uncomfortable when they put the anaesthetic in. I just, all of a sudden, got really overwhelmed and started crying. I don’t know why, I just felt really emotional.
“I think because it’s been going on for ages now and I’ve been really uncertain about what’s going on and just to have them finally removed is a bit of a relief. I just burst into tears and the nurse was like ‘You’re doing amazing, don’t worry,’ they were all so lovely.”
In the same video, which she filmed over a period of several weeks, Ellie shared that her results had come through after a wait of three weeks, explained that the procedure had gone as intended and she urged her followers to always go for their smear test.
She said: “So a little update on my procedure, I had it done three weeks ago. I’ve had my results through and they were just to confirm that [the cells] were exactly what they thought they were, so I finally got my results.
“I’m feeling so much better, I know they’ve been removed so that’s great but waiting for my results I was still a bit apprehensive about what was gonna happen. All fine, and now I just have to go for another smear in six months’ time. If this has taught me anything, it’s that it is so, so, so important to go for your smear test. I know sometimes they can be uncomfortable.
“I was absolutely fine during mine but I am aware that everyone is different and it affects people differently. But please, please, please go for your smear test because they genuinely could save your life.
“If I’d never have gone for my initial smear test, I’d never have known about the pre-cancerous cells and now they’ve been removed, I feel so much better about it. Go for your smear test, it’s so important!”
Ellie was inundated with support after sharing the news, with several famous faces rushing to the comments to weigh in. Former Coronation Street actress Hayley Tamaddon, who played Andrea Beckett and prior to that also starred on Emmerdale, said: “Wonderful that you’re sharing this darling girl. Will help so many others, especially the younger generation.”
Bhavna Limbachia, who played Rana Habeeb on Coronation Street, said: “Thank you for sharing lovely. Sending lots of love xx” and former X Factor contestant Fleur East said: “Very important message!! Thank you for sharing.”
Ellie, who has appeared in The Good Ship Murder and replaced fellow former Corrie star Helen Flanagan in a UK theatre tour of Cluedo 2, was also heavily praised by her fans. One wrote: “So good of you to share your experience . It’s so important to get your checks done as it can save you life. Hope youre doing ok xxxx”
Another said: “Sending you so much love Ellie. Well done you for talking about this, you are an amazing young woman xxx,” and a third wrote: “Well done for highlighting this to young girls for the need to have a smear test.”
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