Hollyoaks Star Ali Bastian Opens Up About Her Tough Fight Against Breast Cancer

Overcome with emotion, Ali Bastian, the beloved star of Hollyoaks, has opened up about the daunting challenge of donning a warrior’s armor in the face of her breast cancer diagnosis. At 42, the actress—who graced our screens as Becca Dean from 2001 to 2007—was enveloped in “total shock” when she received the news in late June. These days, she finds herself navigating everything from Irish morning coffees to chemotherapy sessions, all while juggling her roles as a devoted wife and mother to two young daughters.

Ali’s journey has been anything but easy. With stage two breast cancer looming like a dark cloud, there are moments when even the most valiant of fighters feel the urge to weep. In her candid Instagram Story, she revealed a selfie adorned with a headscarf and confessed, “Some days you don’t feel like the fighter people tell you you are, and that's ok too.” If only we could all admit that there is **cortisol** in tears and that letting them flow is sometimes the most therapeutic option.

In a recent interview, she shared more about her experience, recalling the shocking moment she learned of her diagnosis. “I have mornings when I wake up and I've forgotten... and then suddenly I remember. I’m still trying to process it.” The road to discovery was a winding one, featuring a young mother blissfully breastfeeding her daughter, Isabella, when an unexpected “lump” made itself known.

“I hadn’t been breastfeeding Izzy at night, but then David flew back to London for work and suddenly she was feeding like crazy,” she reminisced, a humorous twinkle in her eye. Initially, she attributed her discomfort to a possible growth spurt. Who hasn’t been fooled by a sneaky little one’s appetite before? But by the next morning, her optimism turned to concern: “Ouch, this really hurts.” And thus began a whirlwind of doctor visits and medical advice.

After a night of wondering whether she simply had a “blocked duct,” Ali's instincts kicked in and she demanded a visit to the breast clinic, her courage shining bright during a bank holiday. “It really seemed like I had mastitis,” she reflected, chuckling at the missteps of motherhood. “The doctor gave me antibiotics and said that if it didn’t clear up in a few days I should go to the breast clinic.” But despite her diligent treatment, the lump was unyielding, prompting her to seek further intervention.

Receiving the diagnosis over the phone was no cakewalk, but Ali was fortunate enough to be enveloped in the healer’s kindness, assuring her that there was “intent to cure me.” Those words—oh, how precious they must be! Medical professionals suspect the cancer is “hormone-driven” and are investigating the potential genetic factors, as her maternal aunt and grandmother had similar battles.

Ali is gearing up for a single mastectomy and patiently awaiting guidance on whether a double mastectomy might serve as a wise preventative measure. But don’t mistake this for resignation; the ex-Doctors star is armed with an oncology psychologist specializing in support and has been paired with a mentor—a fellow warrior who has faced cancer herself. As she bravely marches onward, Ali remains steadfast in her determination to conquer this adversary and return to the stage she loves. “I will get through this and come out the other side,” she resolutely declared, leaving us all cheering for her triumphant comeback.

And who wouldn’t want to rally behind a story of strength, humor, and resilience? After all, in a world where challenges lurk at every corner, sometimes it takes a true fighter like Ali to remind us that tears are simply another way of letting the light shine through.