EastEnders' Samantha Womack's heartbreaking change after breast cancer battle
Former EastEnders actress Samantha Womack is living her best life in Spain with her Emmerdale partner, and exclusively reveals her incredible transformation after cancer
Chatting from her home in Spain's Valencia mountains, with only her rescue dogs for company, former EastEnders actress Samantha Womack couldn't sound happier. The 52-year-old underwent gruelling treatment for breast cancer after being diagnosed in August 2022, but says she now believes the experience has changed her outlook on life for the better.
'I feel so much more enlightened,' says the Brighton-born star. 'I know myself better, I feel humbler, I feel calmer.' The biggest day-to-day change to Samantha's life is that she works far less – although for an actress who's worked pretty much non-stop since rising to fame representing the UK at Eurovision in 1991 and then launching her acting career in the mid-1990s in Pie In The Sky and Game On, saying no doesn't come easily.
'After my year-and-a-half of treatment, I started turning down a lot of stuff – and I didn't have the bank balance to match that confidence, trust me,' admits the actress, who announced she was cancer-free in December 2022. 'It was me saying the word 'no' and my bank account creaking. But there was empowerment in that because I thought, 'OK, I need to go through this, spend time with myself and figure out stuff that I've never figured out – maybe stuff I've buried under a rug.''
Another of Samantha's post-cancer convictions is the need for women's health – particularly breast health – to be more of a priority. She received her diagnosis after a private check-up, driven by a gut feeling that she needed to be seen.
'I felt perfectly fine. There was no discolouration of skin, dimpling, irritation,' she recalls. 'I knew the NHS calls people in at 50, but I just had this thought of, 'I need to go and get checked before then.' I was just on the cusp of catching it too late and the speed with which I had to process information was unbearable. I sometimes think, 'What if I hadn't gone to that appointment?''
Samantha learned she had a fast-spreading, Grade 3 invasive duct carcinoma and her treatment – a lumpectomy and lymph node removal, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy – couldn't wait.
As the stepdaughter of a GP, she threw herself into researching breast health. One of the most shocking things she discovered was the number of women who don't receive accurate mammogram results because of their breast density level. The denser the breast, meaning there is more fibroglandular tissue, the greater the risk of cancer and the harder it is for mammograms to detect tumours.
The star, who is mum to Benjamin, 24, and Lili-Rose, 20, her children with her ex-husband Mark Womack, concluded that women mustn't put their health at the bottom of their 'to do' list. 'We all live in busy worlds and tend to put these little niggles to one side,' she says. 'I'm an avid lover of the NHS, but if something is worrying you and you have the money to go and get yourself checked, why would you not? I did and it changed my life. Now, I want to empower women to take control of their bodies.'
Samantha recognises her privilege, but admits her finances today are very different from the days when she played Ronnie Mitchell in EastEnders from 2007-2017. 'Soaps pay very, very well, but the reality of being self-employed means that, yes, you get paid for the jobs you do, but for the six months of the year you don't work, you don't get paid,' she says. 'I've never been a wealthy person. I've gone from job to job, always thinking, 'Better say yes because no one's going to want me if I don't.' I had very low self-esteem. Going back to work after my treatment felt very hard. I couldn't quite step back into that neurotic, zany energy as easily. I was physically capable, but I wasn't emotionally capable. I was picking things that felt gentle to me.'
One of those gentle jobs was a guest role in cosy crime series The Marlow Murder Club, which, she says, involved a 'lovely bunch of women' and 'felt like a safe space'.
'Now it's about things I feel I can emotionally connect to, without having to lose myself too much,' she says. 'I'm not ready to go into a gold lamé dress and boogie about on stage.'
Another big change for Samantha is how much time she spends alone, as her partner, actor Oliver Farnworth, 42, splits his time between Spain and the UK, where he plays John Sugden in Emmerdale.
The set-up works well, she explains. 'He comes back for two or three days at a time, but is filming a lot at the moment. That's been quite good for me, having some space on my own. It's been rare in my life that I've been confident enough to do that, so it's been helpful.'
Last year, the actress hinted she and Oliver were considering becoming parents together. 'We've talked about adopting, because after the cancer treatment I wouldn't be able to conceive naturally and because of my age,' she says. 'But I think I'm learning to put things in perspective and hopefully, in the next 10 years, one of my kids will produce a sproglet and I can go from maternal to gra-ternal!'
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The Sun
11 minutes ago
- The Sun
National investigation launched into ‘failing' NHS maternity services as Wes Streeting apologises to ‘gaslit' families
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The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) said maternity services are 'at, or even beyond, breaking point'. RCM chief executive Gill Walton said: 'Every woman and family should leave maternity and neonatal services whole, happy and healthy. 'Yet we know that, for far too many, that isn't their experience. 'Systemic failings and a lack of attention to the warning signs have let those families down and let down the hardworking staff who are trying so hard to provide the care they deserve. 'Everyone involved in maternity services: the midwifery community, obstetricians, anaesthetists, sonographers and, of course, the women and families in their care; knows that maternity services are at, or even beyond, breaking point. 'This renewed focus and commitment by the Health Secretary to deliver change is welcome, and we will do everything we can to support him in doing so.' Professor Ranee Thakar, president of the RCOG, said: 'The maternity workforce is on its knees, with many now leaving the profession.' She said that 'for years, maternity units have had too few staff, too little time for training and lacked modern equipment and facilities, resulting in women and babies being harmed.' She urged the Government to 'not to lose sight of funding and workforce shortages within this'.
Scottish Sun
12 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
National investigation launched into ‘failing' NHS maternity services as Wes Streeting apologises to ‘gaslit' families
The investigation will begin by probing up to 10 of the most concerning maternity and neonatal units in England Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HEALTH Secretary Wes Streeting has ordered a rapid investigation into NHS maternity care, stating 'it's clear something is going wrong' at mum and baby units across England. He made the call after meeting with parents whose infants died or were seriously injured due to hospital failings. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Health Secretary Wes Streeting launched an urgent investigation into failing NHS maternity services Credit: PA 2 The investigation will probe concerning trusts before expanding its scope, to produce recommendations at a national level Credit: Getty The review will begin with the worst performing maternity services in England and then look at the country as a whole, with a report due to be published in December. Mr Streeting said grieving families had been 'gaslit lied to, manipulated and damaged further' in their search for the truth due to trusts refusing to admit to failures in care. "For the past year, I have been meeting bereaved families from across the country who have lost babies or suffered serious harm during what should have been the most joyful time in their lives," he said. 'What they have experienced is devastating – deeply painful stories of trauma, loss, and a lack of basic compassion – caused by failures in NHS maternity care that should never have happened. "Their bravery in speaking out has made it clear: we must act – and we must act now." Though "the vast majority of births are safe and without incident", the Health Secretary said "it's clear something is going wrong". 'That's why I've ordered a rapid national investigation to make sure these families get the truth and the accountability they deserve, and ensure no parent or baby is ever let down again," Mr Streeting stated. He pledged to do "everything in [his] power" to prevent more families from suffering due to maternity service failings. The investigation will begin probing up to 10 of the most concerning maternity and neonatal units in the coming weeks to give affected families answers as quickly as possible, according to the Department of Health. This will include trusts in Leeds, Gloucester, Mid and South Essex and Sussex, with the other areas to be confirmed 'shortly'. Maternity deaths are at a 20-year high in Britain - here's what to do if you're worried about symptoms or want to lower your risk Mr Streeting added he'd be ordering investigations into individual cases of families in Leeds and Sussex who suffered from NHS failures. The second part of the investigation will be a 'system-wide' look at maternity and neonatal care. It aims to bring together lessons from past maternity inquiries - of which there have been many - to create one 'clear set of actions' improve NHS care at a national level. A National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, chaired by Mr Streeting, has also been set up, made up of experts and bereaved families. Meanwhile, a new digital system will be rolled out to all maternity services by November to flag potential safety concerns in trusts, and an anti-discrimination programme to tackle inequalities is being launched. Mr Streeting told the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) conference in London: 'Over the last year, I've been wrestling with how we tackle problems in maternity and neonatal units, and I've come to the realisation that while there is action we can take now, we have to acknowledge that this has become systemic. 'It's not just a few bad units. Up and down the country, maternity units are failing, hospitals are failing, trusts are failing, regulators are failing. 'There's too much obfuscation, too much passing the buck and giving lip service.' What was the 'biggest NHS maternity scandal'? Some 201 babies and nine mothers needlessly died in the biggest maternity scandal in NHS history, at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust. An inquiry by top midwife Donna Ockenden found a litany of devastating errors, with the findings revealed in March 2022. It found maternity units were short-staffed for years and bosses refused to take responsibility for mistakes. Alongside the tragic deaths, 94 babies suffered life-changing brain injuries as a result of 'catastrophic' care. Nearly 1,500 families were devastated by death, injury and disability. The report looked at more than 1,800 complaints at the Midlands hospitals, with most from between 2000 and 2019. It found 40 per cent of stillbirths had not been investigated by the trust, similarly with 43 per cent of neonatal deaths. It led staff members to come forward and paint a picture of a "clique with a culture of undermining and bullying", where concerns were ignored by bosses. The investigation found an obsession with keeping caesarean section rates low and promoting "natural births" needlessly cost lives. Some women were even blamed for their own deaths, while major incidents were "inappropriately downgraded" to avoid scrutiny. Patient concerns were dismissed. The "toxic culture" was left unchecked for more than two decades. Ms Ockenden warned the failings identified by her report were "not unique" and called for all maternity units in England to be overhauled. Read more here. The Health Secretary said "appalling" maternity care scandals had come to light over the last 15 years and that "the rate of late maternal deaths has been consistently rising". 'Too many children have died because of state failure and I will not allow it to continue under my watch," he stated. Mr Streeting apologised on behalf of the NHS, after meeting families around the country whose children have died or been injured. He said: 'I want to say publicly how sorry I am, sorry for what the NHS has put them through, sorry for the way they've been treated since by the state and sorry that we haven't put this right yet, because these families are owed more than an apology. "They're owed change, they're owed accountability and they're owed the truth.' The Health Secretary stopped short of launching a statutory public inquiry - despite it being the wish of some bereaved families - explaining that "rapid investigation" would get answers to families faster. But he said he would keep 'that option open'. Asked about the cost of the review, Mr Streeting said: 'I suspect it will be somewhat less than the enormous costs we pay in clinical negligence claims. 'Probably the most shocking statistic in this area is that we are paying out more in clinical negligence for maternity failures than we are spending on maternity services. That's how bad things are." He described the cost of the report as "a drop in the ocean compared to the price of failure". 'A line in the sand' Sir Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS England, said: 'Despite the hard work of staff, too many women are experiencing unacceptable maternity care and families continue to be let down by the NHS when they need us most. 'This rapid national investigation must mark a line in the sand for maternity care – setting out one set of clear actions for NHS leaders to ensure high quality care for all. 'Transparency will be key to understanding variation and fixing poor care – by shining a spotlight on the areas of greatest failure we can hold failing trusts to account. 'Each year, over half a million babies are born under our care and maternity safety rightly impacts public trust in the NHS – so we must act immediately to improve outcomes for the benefit of mothers, babies, families and staff.' The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) said maternity services are 'at, or even beyond, breaking point'. RCM chief executive Gill Walton said: 'Every woman and family should leave maternity and neonatal services whole, happy and healthy. 'Yet we know that, for far too many, that isn't their experience. 'Systemic failings and a lack of attention to the warning signs have let those families down and let down the hardworking staff who are trying so hard to provide the care they deserve. 'Everyone involved in maternity services: the midwifery community, obstetricians, anaesthetists, sonographers and, of course, the women and families in their care; knows that maternity services are at, or even beyond, breaking point. 'This renewed focus and commitment by the Health Secretary to deliver change is welcome, and we will do everything we can to support him in doing so.' Professor Ranee Thakar, president of the RCOG, said: 'The maternity workforce is on its knees, with many now leaving the profession.' She said that 'for years, maternity units have had too few staff, too little time for training and lacked modern equipment and facilities, resulting in women and babies being harmed.' She urged the Government to 'not to lose sight of funding and workforce shortages within this'.
Daily Mail
20 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Revealed: Areas in England most likely to use Viagra... do YOU live in one of them?
Men in Yorkshire are the most likely in England to need a bit of assistance in the bedroom, NHS data suggests. Official data shows just over nearly 3.6 per cent of men in the East Riding were prescribed an erectile dysfunction medication like Viagra, in 2024. This was followed by men in Northumberland and Dorset who came second and third for taking such drugs, at 3.4 and 3.3 per cent respectively. The north and north-east of England appears to be particularly hard-hit by impotency with many of its cities and towns featuring in the top 10 areas for such prescriptions. On the opposite end of the spectrum, men in Leicester City appeared to be the least likely to need help from the little blue pill to maintain an erection, with only 1.5 per cent taking them. Other areas In England with low similarly low prescription rates were North West London (1.7 per cent) as well as Cambridgeshire and Peterborough (1.9 per cent). For comparison, 2.4 per cent of men across all of England were prescribed an erectile dysfunction medication last year. These figures were calculated by examining NHS prescription data collected from England's 106 Clinical Commissioning Groups. In total, last year almost 770,000 men in England got nearly £5million prescriptions for the drugs, costing the NHS just under £17million. However, the data might not give a true indication of where men are most reliant on the little blue pill. Men can buy a course of drugs like sildenafil—the generic version of Viagra—over the counter for as little as £15 with similar tablets also available online for as little as £1.30 per pill. Such private purchases of the drug wouldn't be included in the NHS data. Additionally, while most famous for their libido boosting affects, many of the drugs aren't just prescribed for erectile dysfunction. Such medications also teat pulmonary hypertension, a type of high blood pressure in the arteries that supply the lungs. The same mechanism by which the drugs increase blood flow to the penis also relaxes blood vessels in the chest helping to alleviate this condition. Medics have also previously suggested that the data may not solely reflect where the drugs are needed the most by men, but also where they feel the most comfortable taking to their GP about sexual health. Impotency is no laughing matter and men suffering from the problem frequently are urged to seek advice from their GP. Not only can the problem impact their sexual and mental health, erection problems can also be potential sign of serious health problems like cardiovascular disease. However, not all men are advised to take drugs like sildenafil, for example those with heart problems are warned against taking it. About one in 100 people taking sildenafil will experience common side effects from taking sildenafil. These include headaches, nausea, hot flushes, indigestion, a stuffy nose and dizziness, according to the NHS. Those taking the pills for longer periods, such as for pulmonary hypertension, are more likely to experience these effects than those taking the pills on an 'as needed' basis for erectile dysfunction, the health service says. More serious side effects requiring urgent medical care are estimated to affect less than one in 1,000 people. These include seizures, suffering a prolonged and potentially painful erection especially for over two hours, chest pain, and in very rare cases a life-threatening allergic reaction to the medication called anaphylaxis. Last year MailOnline revealed that popular erection pills such as Viagra have been linked to more than 200 deaths in Britain. None of the fatalities—all of which have occurred since 1998—are proven to have been caused directly by the drugs. Erectile dysfunction, sometimes shortened to 'ED' is thought to effect about half of men over 40. While most cases are isolated and nothing to worry about, repeated or sustained impotency should be checked out by a GP.
