Coronation Street actress Beverley Callard has shared a update on her breast cancer battle, revealing low-risk lymph node results as she prepares for radiotherapy
Beverley Callard became tearful as she revealed the latest development in her cancer fight. The actress, 69, disclosed in February this year that she had been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer and has remained candid with her supporters about the entire journey ever since.
In March, the former I’m A Celebrity…South Africa participant had her initial surgery and, following a postponement in receiving the results from that procedure, learned roughly six weeks afterwards that while the cancer was successfully removed, it had metastasised to a lymph node and she has been waiting for additional updates since then.
After subsequent examinations that occurred in America, Beverley, who recently moved to Ireland with her husband Jon McEwan so she could appear in the BBC soap Fair City, posted on Instagram on Thursday to provide the update. She said: “I’ve got absolutely great news, one of the lymph nodes that they’d sent over for testing to see how aggressive the cancer would be and it’s on low numbers, which is really good.
“That means I can begin the radiotherapy very soon, which I’m pleased about. So the next step is coming ahead. Thank you for all your messages, I’m sending loads of love. I am popping champagne! Wahey!” Beverley, who is best known for her role as Liz McDonald on Coronation Street, wrote alongside the post: “Well… the results are in and we are popping the champagne! I can’t begin to explain the relief… now on to the next steps. What a journey it’s been so far… sending love and thanks to everyone.”
In the Instagram Reel, the actress opened champagne while her husband Jon remarked: “What a f****** journey!”
The soap star was flooded with supportive messages from followers, with one commenting: “Great news! Rest up ahead of RT and keep smiling,” while another added: “So pleased for you Bev. You are being so strong and got great support around you.”
A third penned: “You deserve great news. Sending lots of love and strength from Ireland. God bless,” and a fourth commented: “The best news,i wish u the very best,will you have your treatment in ireland, be easier than travelling.”
The encouraging news arrives just days after the actress was compelled to withdraw from the live final of I’m A Celebrity…South Africa due to her health, and confessed that she had been left “wiped out” after staying up late to make a virtual appearance via Zoom for an interview, reports the Mirror.
She explained: “The internet went down half way through so I didn’t finish. Did my make-up and stuck my eyelashes on and all that and it was hardly worth it, but never mind. I was wiped for days – does anyone else feel like that with one late night?
“Is that what cancer does to you sometimes? I’m still waiting for my results which I hope to get Thursday. I’m trying, I’m trying. Thank you for all your messages.”
Beverley initially disclosed her diagnosis in February while appearing on RTE’s Late Late Show, revealing she’d received the devastating news mere minutes before she was scheduled to film her new soap role.
She explained: “I’ve had some tests just before I left the UK, and literally, 15, 20 minutes before I was in my dressing room at Fair City, getting ready to go on, and I was quite nervous and thinking, ‘I hope everybody thinks I’m all right’, whatever.
“And my consultant rang me and said, ‘you’ve got to come back to the UK’ I said, ‘Well, I can’t possibly, I’ve just taken a new job’. I said ‘I’m away for a month’, and I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“But I’m fine, I’m absolutely fine. My head was a bit mashed for the first few days. It’s very early stages, and I’m along with thousands of other women as well.”
