EastEnders star ‘couldn’t break down’ in front of her kids during cancer battle

EastEnders star Heather Peace has opened up about her cancer diagnosis and treatment in a TV interview.

The Eve Unwin actress appeared on ITV Lorraine on Wednesday, where she recalled the moment she discovered she had breast cancer, and her determination to keep working throughout her health battle.

Heather was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2024, while filming Eve and her onscreen partner Suki Panesar’s ( Balvinder Sopal ) relationship and getting married.

“It was the night before we started the block that I found out,” she told Lorraine Kelly. “At that point, I just thought I wanted to finish the story so if things had gone badly wrong, we had kind of put a full stop.”

Insisting it was her decision to continue working throughout her treatment, she praised the BBC for their support, saying: “It was my choice.”

Heather added: “The days that I was there were the days that were the easiest because everyone makes you laugh, it’s a real family feel and I didn’t want to be at home.”

Talking about her diagnosis, she went on: “It’s like having the rug ripped out from under you.”

She went on: “It’s been very positive as well,” and praised her wife, who has also had her own breast cancer battle.

“We showed up for each other, and I think being able to prove that in sickness and in health, we did it.

“She showed up for me and I showed up for her, it made us stronger, it’s been really tough on the kids.”

Heather, who has an 11-year-old daughter and nine-year-old twins, went on: “We were honest without scaring them, we were super honest with them the whole time.

“The only thing was I couldn’t allow myself to break down in front of them… I used to use the shower for that, it’s tricky because their world is falling apart as well.”

After her diagnosis, Heather said it made her “realise what’s important”, adding: “I’ve got a beautiful family at home and that’s enough.”

While host Lorraine described Heather’s cancer as “aggressive”, and the actress admitted how scary it was, she did say: “I don’t see myself as strong at all, I think it’s about seeing the positives in the situation you’re in.”

She added: “All the relationships in your life suddenly mean so much more.”

Sharing a health update and urging other women to get checked, Heather revealed she was diagnosed after noticing a change in her nipples.

“I found out because I was doing a no-sugar diet and was taking pictures of myself to watch my progress, it was because my nipple looked different, that’s how I worked it out, I was like, that doesn’t look like me,” she said.

“It’s really important, just in the shower, while you’re washing yourself.”

When Lorraine asked her about the continued treatment she’s now on, Heather replied: “A couple of years of drugs, everything is bespoke now with cancer care, depending on your age, fitness, whatever.

“So I’m on a couple of years of drugs to keep flushing my system because it was in my lymph.”