Former Coronation Street star shares emotional cancer update three years on from life-changing diagnosis
A FORMER Coronation Street star has shared an emotional cancer update three years on from her life-changing diagnosis – and revealed her exciting come back to screens.
The actress revealed the devastating news back in 2021.
Victoria Ekanoye – who portrayed Angie Appleton in Coronation Street from 2017 to 2019 – was diagnosed with breast cancer, DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) and underwent a double mastectomy.
The actress discovered a lump in her breast and, considering her family history of cancer, wasted no time in taking action.
Three years on from her life changing diagnosis, Victoria has shared the good news that she is now cancer-free.
She took to Twitter/X to announce her PET scan came back clear.
Alongside a snap with her partner Jonny Lomas and their son, Théo, Victoria captioned the post: “Taken the day I revealed my Breast Cancer diagnosis, 2021.
“Just received my blood & PET scan results, I can finally say… I’m CANCER FREE.
She continued: “Thank you to those who formed my safety net. I’m humbled to have such beautiful humans in my life. 2024 Let’s go!”
At the time, Victoria said: “My mum had breast cancer at 41, and her sister at 39 – so many people in my family, in fact. So I don’t really leave any time before I check these things.
“I was diagnosed on October 13 with DCIS, which is ductal carcinoma in situ. It basically means that cells have turned cancerous within the milk ducts,” she continued.
“We’re being really optimistic, and positive, and really lucky that we’ve caught it as early as we have. I don’t know if lucky is the right word, but that’s how I feel.”
Now three years later, with the all clear, Victoria is ready to begin a fresh new chapter.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Victoria said: “Oh gosh, its been a long wait, obviously at the end of 2021 is when I got diagnosed and our boy wasn’t even 1 years old, so we are just over the moon to have that weight lifted off our shoulders.
On how she celebrated the good news with her family, Victoria said “We laughed and cried, it was just so surreal because it feels like it’s been going on for so long.”
Being a mum and Victoria’s mum who also had breast cancer were the only things that kept Victoria going.
“My mum was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 and we are very similar and I feel like I get my tenacity from her. She’s incredible. She’s got such a sunny disposition despite all of the adversity she’s been through and fought against.
“She’s just an incredible woman and I feel like she also was my rock because she was a mum, and she went through it and also she understood it more than anybody in my life.”
Her role on Death in Paradise
In 2022, Victoria landed a role in the popular BBC crime drama series, Death in Paradise.
She portrayed Miranda Priestley, appearing in the fourth episode of Series 11.
But she had the shock of her life while filming the show.
Victoria recalled the heart breaking moment when she found a ‘second lump’ in her breast on set in Guadeloupe.
She shared: “I had found the first one whilst I was breastfeeding at home, and I had two scans and they had said I was ok, and I had just booked Death in Paradise, after having Theo.
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“I remember one day on set, I was adjusting my mic and costume and kind of rolled down the front, and I remember just pushing down to kind of make sure it wasn’t coming away so that it wouldn’t fall, and I pushed and I felt another lump.”
“At first it was really confusing because I thought is that the same lump? and then I moved further and I felt the other one, so I took myself into another room and just really had a chat with myself and said to myself ‘there’s nothing you can do about it right now’.
“You’ve got a job to do, you’re here with your mum and your son, there’s no point worrying anyone. Then when I got home I got it checked and that’s when I went for my third opinion.”
On whether she would return to Coronation Street
Victoria hinted at a possible comeback to the Cobbles as Angie, stating “never say never.”
She said: “I can’t say there’s anything set in stone at the moment, but what I will say is, I think it would be wonderful for Mary to have her family back. I’m down[ if she gets the call to return]. Never say never.”
Victoria also teased a potential role in a detective series and had high praise for Sarah Lancashire, who started her career in Coronation Street.
She described Lancashire’s work as “astounding.”
“One of the people that just blow my mind with their journey, and also just how humble and ridiculously talented they are, is Sarah Lancashire. I think what she did in Happy Valley was just astounding.
“I take my hat off to her, you know she said it herself she earned her stripes on the Cobbles, you know it’s so fast-paced, and she’s just incredible. I love all the detective series. So I feel that would be the next step for me.”
And the actress her eyes set on appearing in a period drama or film as well.
“The other thing I would love to do is be in a period drama. I’ve wanted to do a period drama or film,” she added.
Victoria will be starring in a period adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility coming to Hallmark channel this month.
In addition, the actress revealed that she is currently in the studio working on new music that will be released later this year.
Victoria blew the judges away when she appeared in X Factor Celebrity in 2019.
