Malandra Burrows of Emmerdale has revealed that she is receiving treatment for stage three breast cancer.
Who was Malandra Burrows?
Malandra landed the role of Kathy Bates on Emmerdale only three months after graduating from drama school.
She was one of the longest-running characters on the show, appearing from 1985 to 2001 and reappearing briefly in 2005.
Kathy was involved in many interesting storylines over the years, including being kidnapped by a diamond-stealing lord, being knocked down by a horse, and being married three times and dumped at the altar.
Malandra was a contestant on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2006, where she was the sixth star to be sent home.
Does Malandra Burrows have cancer?
The actress, 56, who played Kathy Glover on the soap, was diagnosed with Stage three breast cancer in February and will be treated with chemotherapy for the next six months.
Does Malandra Burrows have cancer, Malandra told OK! magazine that she discovered a lump in January and was said it was just a cyst by her first specialist, who said he ‘wouldn’t be seeing her again.
Malandra, on the other hand, had a follow-up scan and ultrasound and was told that the doctors needed to see her as soon as possible.
When she arrived at the hospital, she was greeted by a Macmillan nurse who nearly burst into tears when she told her the news.
‘I’ve kind of gone into combat mode,’ she explained. Looking back, I’ve done everything I could and that’s all I can do. I hate to say it, but when your life is on the line, you’re willing to go to any length to survive. That has helped me concentrate.’
Melandra is remaining optimistic despite her diagnosis and is realistic about her future…
‘It’s just day by day,’ she explained. I could have a good day followed by five bad days; I just have to deal with them as they come.
‘You have to create nice moments because they become so valuable.’ Even if they seem insignificant, when you have cancer, they become wonderful, life-changing events.’
The actress went on to say that she hasn’t broken down in tears about her diagnosis because she was prepared for it, but her body did have an involuntary ‘breakdown,’ leaving her unable to eat anything.
Malandra, who has lost friends to breast cancer in the past, said she was supposed to have a routine mammogram in 2020, but it was canceled due to the pandemic.
She now believes that if her appointment had gone ahead, cancer would have been discovered sooner.
What is Breast cancer?
According to Mayo clinic Breast cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the cells of the breasts.
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States, after skin cancer. Breast cancer can affect both men and women, but it affects women far more frequently.
Sources available for breast cancer awareness and research funding have aided in the advancement of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Breast cancer survival rates have significantly increased, and the number of deaths associated with the disease has steadily decreased, owing to factors such as earlier detection, a new personalized approach to treatment, and a better understanding of the disease.
Symptoms
- Breast cancer signs and symptoms may include:
- A lump or thickening in the breast that feels different from the surrounding tissue
- Breast enlargement, reshaping, or resemblance
- Dimpling is a change in the skin over the breast.
- A nipple that has recently inverted
- The pigmented area of surrounding skin the nipple (areola) or breast skin peels, scales, crusts, or flakes.
- Redness or pitting of the skin over your breast, resembling orange skin
Types
- Angiosarcoma
- Inflammatory breast cancer
- Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
- Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
- Invasive lobular carcinoma
- Male breast cancer
- Recurrent breast cancer
- Paget’s disease of the breast
Causes
Breast cancer develops when some breast cells begin to grow abnormally, according to doctors. These cells divide faster than healthy cells and continue to clump together, forming a lump or mass. Cells in your breast may spread (metastasize) to your lymph nodes or other parts of your body.
Breast cancer is most commonly caused by cells in the milk-producing ducts (invasive ductal carcinoma). Breast cancer can also start in the glandular tissue known as lobules (invasive lobular carcinoma) or in other cells or tissues within the breast.
Breast cancer risk factors have been identified by researchers as hormonal, lifestyle, and environmental factors. However, it is unclear why some people with no risk factors develop cancer while others with risk factors never do.
Breast cancer is most likely caused by a complex interaction of your genetic structure and your environment.
Inherited Breast cancer
Doctors believe that 5 to 10% of breast cancers are caused by gene mutations passed down through generations of a family.
Several inherited mutated genes that have been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer have been identified. The most well-known are breast cancer genes 1 (BRCA1) and 2 (BRCA2), both of which increase the risk of both breast and ovarian cancer.
If you have a solid family history of breast cancer or even other cancers, your doctor may suggest a blood test to identify specific mutations in the BRCA or other genes that are passed down through your family.
Consider asking your doctor for a referral to a genetic counselor who can look over your family’s medical history. A genetic counselor can also help you with shared decision-making by discussing the benefits, risks, and limitations of genetic testing.
Risk elements
A breast cancer risk factor is anything that increases your chances of developing breast cancer. However, having one or more breast cancer risk factors does not guarantee that you will develop breast cancer. Many women who develop breast cancer still had no known risk factors other than the fact that they are female.
The following factors have been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer:
Being a female: Breast cancer is much more common in women than in men.
A personal history of breast problems: If you’ve had a breast biopsy and it revealed lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) or atypical hyperplasia of the breast, you’re at a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
Getting older: As you get older, your chances of developing breast cancer rise.
Breast cancer runs in my family: If your mother, sister, or daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer, especially when they were young, your risk of developing breast cancer is increased. Nonetheless, the vast majority of breast cancer patients have no family background of cancer.
A personal breast cancer history: If you’ve had breast cancer in one breast, you’re more likely to develop cancer in the other.
Exposure to radiation: If you received chest radiation treatments as a child or young adult, your risk of developing breast cancer is increased.
Inherited genes that increase the risk of cancer: Certain breast cancer-related gene mutations can be passed down from parents to children. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are the two most well-known gene mutations. These genes can significantly increase your risk of developing breast cancer and other cancers, but they do not make cancer inevitable.
Start your period at a younger age: Starting your period before the age of 12 raises your risk of developing breast cancer.
Obesity: Obesity raises your chances of developing breast cancer.
Having your first child later in life: Women who have their first child after the age of 30 may be at a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
Menopause begins at a later age: If you started menopause later in life, you are more likely to develop breast cancer.
Hormone replacement therapy after menopause: Women who use hormone therapy medications that combine oestrogen and progesterone to treat menopausal symptoms are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer. When women stop taking these medications, their risk of developing breast cancer decreases.
Never been pregnant before: Women who have never been pregnant are more likely to develop breast cancer than those who have had one or more pregnancies.
Having a drink: Drinking alcohol raises the risk of developing breast cancer.
When should you see a doctor?
Make an appointment with your doctor right away if you notice a lump or other change in your breast, even if your most recent mammogram was normal.
Prevention
Breast cancer risk reduction for average-risk women
Making lifestyle changes may help decrease the risk of breast cancer. Make an effort to:
- Inquire with your doctor about breast cancer screening: Consult your doctor about when to start breast cancer screening tests and exams, such as clinical breast exams and mammograms.
Discuss the advantages and risks of screening with your doctor. You and your doctor can decide which breast cancer screening strategies are best for you. - Breast self-exams can help you become acquainted with your breasts and increase your breast awareness.
Women may choose to become acquainted with their breasts by inspecting them on occasion during a breast self-exam for breast awareness. If you notice any new changes, lumps, or other unordinary signs in your breasts, consult your doctor right away.
Breast cancer cannot be prevented, but it can help you better understand the normal changes that occur in your breasts and identify any strange signs and symptoms. - Drink alcohol sparingly, if at all: If you choose to drink alcohol, limit yourself to no more than one drink per day.
- Most days of the week, you should exercise. On most days of the week, aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise. If you haven’t been active in a while, consult your doctor and begin slowly.
- Postmenopausal hormone therapy should be limited. Combination hormone therapy has been linked to an increase in the risk of breast cancer. Discuss the benefits and risks of hormone therapy with your doctor.
Some women experience bothersome menopausal signs and symptoms, and for these women, the rising risk of breast cancer may be appropriate to alleviate menopausal symptoms.
Use the lowest dose of hormonal treatment possible for the shortest amount of time to reduce the risk of breast cancer. - Keep a healthy weight. If your weight is healthy, work to keep it that way. If you need to lose weight, talk to your doctor about healthy ways to do so. Decrease the number of calories you consume each day while gradually increasing the amount of exercise you do.
- Choose a nutritious diet. Women who follow a Mediterranean diet that includes extra-virgin olive oil and mixed nuts may have a lower risk of breast cancer. The Mediterranean diet emphasizes plant-based foods like fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts. People following the Mediterranean diet prefer healthy fats like olive oil to butter and fish to red meat.
Breast cancer risk reduction for high-risk women
If your doctor has reviewed your family history and determined that you have other risk factors for breast cancer, such as a precancerous breast condition, you may discuss options to reduce your risk, such as:
Medication for prevention (chemoprevention). Estrogen-blocking medications, such as selective oestrogen receptor modulators and aromatase inhibitors, lower the risk of breast cancer in women who are at high risk.
Because these medications have a high risk of side effects, they are only prescribed to women who are at a very high risk of developing breast cancer. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages with your doctor.
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