Actress Ali Bastian, best known for her role as Becca Dean in Hollyoaks, has revealed she has been diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. The 42-year-old actress, who now lives in Ireland with her husband David O’Mahony and their two daughters, shared that the diagnosis came as a “total shock” at the end of June.
Ali, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy, will also face a mastectomy and radiotherapy as part of her treatment. , she admitted she’s still coming to terms with the diagnosis. “I have mornings when I wake up and I’ve forgotten… and then suddenly I remember. I’m still trying to process it,” she said.
Doctors suspect her cancer is hormone-driven and are investigating whether it may be genetic, as both her aunt and grandmother had breast cancer. Ali is scheduled for a single mastectomy, though she is still considering whether a double mastectomy would be a wise preventative measure.
Ali has been given support from a psychologist specialising in oncology and a mentor who has also battled cancer. Despite the difficult road ahead, Ali remains determined to overcome the disease and return to acting. “I will get through this and come out the other side,” she said, expressing her longing to be back on set.
Bastian, who starred in Hollyoaks from 2001 to 2007 and has also appeared in Doctors and The Bill, has every intention of resuming her career once her treatment is complete. “I really miss it,” she shared, referring to her passion for acting.
Her story serves as a reminder to others to pay attention to their health and seek medical advice if they notice any changes, especially for those with a family history of breast cancer.
