Former Coronation Street star Victoria Ekanoye revealed she had to get a third opinion before getting a breast cancer diagnosis.
Victoria - who is the fifth person in her family to have had breast cancer - discovered the lump back in October while she was feeding her baby Theo.
The 40-year-old then proceeded to seek medical advice and ended up undergoing a double mastectomy over the Christmas holidays.
Speaking to The Sun, Victoria explained: "I cried. I knew I would have to tell people I love and care about. I hate worrying them. Breastfeeding saved me. I may not have detected it otherwise.
"When they told me it was very treatable and potentially surgery would be curative, there was no option but the double mastectomy."
The star went on to explain that she underwent the procedure as she didn't 'want to look over my shoulder for the rest of my life'.
"It is peace of mind," she added.
She opened up about the moment she discovered the lump recently.
Victoria, who played Angie Appleton in Corrie before she quit the ITV soap in 2019, told the panel she immediately knew something was wrong, as she is the fifth member of her family to have had breast cancer.
Sitting in the studio, Victoria said: “When my breast was full with milk it would just protrude out of the skin. I could see it, my partner could see it and it’s quite alarming.”
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After she was diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer called ductal carcinoma in situ, where milk duct cells turn cancerous, Victoria checked into Wythenshawe Hospital on December 17 for a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.
She went on to explain to the hosts that she has to make a decision on whether she will undergo chemotherapy or hormone therapy treatment.
Victoria said she is leaning towards the latter treatment over five a year period, despite the fact it can cause menopause symptoms, as the side effects of chemotherapy can be “debilitating”.
She told the Loose Women: “I think the hardest part has been telling people. I went and got the results on my own on Monday against everybody’s wishes, because I feel like if I can focus on what they’re telling me and ask the right questions, I can process everything and then I can get back and tell them what’s going on.
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