Denise fears for the future in EastEnders after devastating cancer diagnosis
Denise was left devastated in the wake of her diagnosis, confiding in Yolande
Denise Fox (Diane Parish) was left devastated in EastEnders after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), breaking down in Yolande Trueman’s (Angela Wynter) arms in the aftermath.
The beloved Walford matriarch was left worried about her health after frequent bouts of overwhelming tiredness and, following some encouragement from Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf), she decided to go to the doctors.
On the day of Ross Marshall (Alex Walkinshaw) and Vicki Fowler’s (Alice Haig) wedding, she was summoned to the hospital for a bone marrow aspirate test and learned in subsequent scenes that she has AML, which is a rare form of blood cancer.
Denise learned that she would require immediate treatment. Devastated, she struggled to process the news and thus headed to the salon, where she asked her smart speaker Iggy some questions about the condition.
The show favourite, who recently marked 20 years in the Square, was left incredibly emotional to learn of the survival rates for AML – and the even lower survival rates for Black people.
Yolande, who had suspected Denise had something on her mind, arrived at the Salon to get some answers.
Denise attempted to keep her diagnosis to herself, evading Yolande’s line of questioning and pushing her away but she was ultimately consumed with devastation at the mention of her young son Raymond, breaking down in Yolande’s arms.
In heart-wrenching scenes, helmed by powerhouse performances from Diane Parish and Angela Wynter, Denise shared her diagnosis with Yolande.
Yolande wasted little time in offering comfort and support to Denise, who feared she would become a burden to her loved ones.
Denise recalled her abuse at the hands villainous exes Lucas Johnson (Don Gilet) and Owen Turner (Lee Ross) and how – even through all her torment – she never lost that urge to survive. But she noted that her diagnosis feels different to that.
Yolande was quick to remind her that she survived everything the aforementioned abusive men put her through, reiterating that she can survive cancer too. Denise was grateful to her for her powerful words.
The matriarch will have more emotional scenes to come ahead of her next steps after grandson Jordan Fox was knocked down outside the wedding venue.
