Dame Julie Walters’ fans will be happy to know that the actress has recorded for an upcoming Channel 4 series six years after she announced her retirement from acting, claiming it was “never good for her” and partially attributing her decision to the craft to her cancer diagnosis. What kind of cancer was discovered in Walters?
The 72-year-old Walters was seen filming in June of last year for her first significant TV role in many years. In the movie Truelove, which brought the adored Dame out of retirement, friends gather at a funeral and make a pact to arrange each other’s funerals if they get sick.
I had almost given up acting, but I read Truelove, according to Walters. I was astounded by the writing, which combined a love story, a thriller element, and some dark humor set against the backdrop of what happens to us all as we age. “.
Walters stopped acting in 2018 after learning, through renowned journalist Victoria Derbyshire, of her shocking colon cancer diagnosis.
After experiencing “slight discomfort” that abruptly developed into severe stomach pain, heartburn, and vomiting, Walters visited her doctor. Her intestine had an irregularity, which her doctor found.
Walters recalled that after the “shock” diagnosis, it was “all systems go” to get her the life-threatening condition that kills over 16,000 people in the UK every year treated.
Walters was relieved that she would be able to stop performing despite her anxiety about treating the illness.
I don’t want to work any more,” she proclaimed. The oncologist asked, “What do you think caused cancer,” and I immediately thought of the acting.
Because of the way I approach it, which requires complete immersion, acting is what caused it. It’s quite stressful. There is an assessment of you. I don’t get much sleep because my job is so demanding. For me, it’s not good. “.
“There was a part of me that thought, ‘Oh my God! I have cancer! Oh my goodness!’ Now that the aftermath is being dealt with, it’s all hands on deck to get it handled. I don’t have to do any more work, though, was another element that came into play. I believe I can exit the treadmill. “.
It seemed like a good reason not to do anything because I had been working so hard. All other considerations are subordinate to the fight against cancer. Consequently, it had a peculiar sense of comfort. But I needed something to restrain myself. ”.
Fortunately, Walters received chemotherapy and received the all-clear from doctors, but she still decided to stop acting because she needed a break.
As of the time of Walters’ diagnosis, his bowel cancer was in stage 3, which means it had not yet spread to any other parts of his body but had already spread to nearby lymph nodes. Her problems were caused by two enormous tumors that were found by doctors in her large intestine.
In order to diagnose and treat the condition as quickly as possible, Bowel Cancer UK states that recognizing the symptoms of bowel cancer is essential. According to their website, being aware of colon cancer symptoms may save your life.
According to Walters, who experienced nausea, vomiting, and heartburn, symptoms can differ from person to person. In other cases, symptoms may not be brought on by cancer because they are brought on by other medical conditions. In any case, it’s crucial to pay attention to the signs.
Those who keep a diary of their symptoms may be able to communicate them to their doctor. This will give the doctor a good indication of whether or not they need additional tests, according to Bowel Cancer UK.
A tumour may occasionally block the colon, resulting in excruciating stomach pain, bloating, and feeling unwell. At this point, individuals might be unable to pass the wind or empty their bowels. This is referred to as an intestinal obstruction.
Chemotherapy, the most popular treatment for the condition, was given to Walters after surgery to remove 30 cm of her lower intestine.
Aside from chemotherapy, other possible treatments include radiotherapy and targeted therapies, a more recent class of medications that boosts the effectiveness of chemotherapy and prevents cancer from spreading.
Healthcare professionals hold routine follow-up meetings to check your physical and emotional well-being. Hospitals frequently offer support services to people who have had bowel cancer.
Following her operation, Walters assured Derbyshire that “everything is good,” and the celebrity is again in the public eye.
