The doctor’s words would have come like a hammer blow as Lynda Bellingham was told the terrible news she had cancer.
But the OXO mum yesterday insisted she will fight the disease with all her might and was confident of making a full recovery.
As
messages of support flooded in for the 65-year-old Loose Women star,
she tweeted: “Hi everyone, just to say I have been diagnosed with cancer
but I am not going to die!
“Dealing with it and hope to be back at work soon.”
The actress has not revealed what type of cancer she has. But she plans to take time off immediately to receive treatment.
Her sister Barbara died in 2008 from a lung tumour at 56.
Lynda’s diagnosis means her tour with Kay Mellor’s play A Passionate
Woman – due to kick off in Sheffield at the end of the summer - has been
put on ice until its leading lady is fit and well enough to take part.
Speaking
from Spain, writer and director Mellor said: “No one is going to
replace Lynda, we are going to wait for her to get better.
“We had a read through last week and she was just glorious, she made us all laugh and cry.
"She was vibrant and looked the picture of good health. If anyone can fight this Lynda can.
“The play will wait. Lynda has to get well, that’s where my thoughts are now. She’s a mother, a wife, a sister.
"Those
things are much more important than a play. It’s really sad, I can’t
believe that a woman so vibrant could be so poorly.”
Artistic
director of Sheffield Theatres Daniel Evans added: “A Passionate Woman
is an extraordinary play about an extraordinary woman, and that woman
is Lynda.
“She is the heart of this production and it’s inconceivable we would do it without her.
“Our priority is to Lynda and her health, and we look forward to welcoming her back soon.”
After
announcing her cancer diagnosis late on Monday, Lynda said: “I’m
devastated not to be able to honour my commitments to the play this
year.
"But having toured many times before, I’m aware of the sheer stamina needed and I need to prioritise my recovery.
“That said, nothing’s going to stop me coming back next year and I can’t wait to be ‘a passionate woman’.”
Panel: Her Loose Women colleagues have offered their support
ITV
Showbiz friends have rallied round Lynda after the shock news and took to Twitter to offer support.
Newsreader Alistair Stewart wrote: “Thinking of you dear Belli. Xxx.”
Daybreak’s Aled Jones added: “Thinking of you Linda and sending huge love.”
Tweeting from her honeymoon in Paris, fellow Loose Woman Denise Welch posted: “Stay strong!! #keepfighting #youwillbeatit xxx.”
Former panellist Kate Thornton said: “Bellers, if anyone can take this illness on and show it who’s boss it’s you. Sending you love and strength xxx.”
Rav Wilding wrote: “Sending lots of love Bellows, see you soon xx.”
And Bobby Ball added: “Be strong Lynda.”
Debbie McGee wrote a message from her and magician husband Paul Daniels, saying: “Thinking of you and sending love.”
Lynda has two grown-up sons, Michael and Robbie.
She
married for the third time, to mortgage broker Michael Pattemore, on
her 60th birthday in 2008 – the same year she lost Barbara.
Ever
since then, the presenter has been a high-profile and passionate
supporter of Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support.
Lynda has spoken candidly of her shock at Barbara’s terminal diagnosis, because she had given up smoking 20 years previously.
Writing
on Macmillan’s website, she claimed one of the lessons learned from her
death was to “never be complacent when it comes to health”.
Lynda said she and Michael are very cancer aware and try to live healthily.
Theatre star: Lynda Bellingham in Calendar Girls
She added: “We try to keep a healthy lifestyle, we don’t drink
or smoke, we eat good food with lots of fish, fruit, nothing fried.
"We’ve got a walking machine, and when I’m on tour I pick hotels with swimming pools.”
But she admitted giving up smoking was tough.
Lynda said: “Over the years, I’ve done my fair share of drinking and smoking excesses.
"I’ve given up both at times, but smoking has always been the really hard one and when stressed, I’ve lit up again.
“It
took a specialist to really scare me. He said I’d lose my voice if I
didn’t stop and what actor isn’t terrified of losing their voice?
"That was a reality check.”
Support: Lynda Bellingham with husband Michael
WireImage
And the TV favourite recently told a health website she looks after herself increasingly well as she gets older.
She said: “I used to think 40 was old but now I’m in my 60s I want to keep on living for as long as possible.
“None
of us can beat death and I don’t know what is in store for me, but now
I’m doing everything I can to look after myself and stay healthy.
"That includes not smoking, but I’ve also given up alcohol, watch my diet carefully and have a health MOT every year.
“I also have regular mammograms and cervical smear tests and have any suspect moles checked.
“It’s
about being vigilant so that if you do notice any changes they can be
investigated sooner and if there is a problem they can be treated in
the early stages when the chances of survival are much higher.”
Lynda,
who took part in Strictly Come Dancing four years ago, currently
presents Country House Sunday on ITV, a weekly show in which she
explores stately homes around the UK.
The series has already been recorded and the remaining eight episodes will be shown as planned.
Lynda’s
OXO TV ads, which ran from 1983 to 1999 and featured her as the
long-suffering mother in a squabbling family, became a national
institution.
Michael Redfern played her husband.
Her other
career highlights include Helen Herriot in All Creatures Great and Small
and Faith Grayshott in the sitcom Second Thoughts, which began on BBC
Radio 4 in 1988 before transferring to ITV. She returned for the sequel
Faith in the Future in 1995.
Lynda also starred in a stage version
of the hit film Calendar Girls alongside Gaynor Faye, Patricia Hodge,
Sian Phillips, Elaine C Smith and Julia Hills.
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