Dame Julie Walters given all clear after bowel cancer diagnosis

The actress was diagnosed in 2018

Author: Alex RossPublished 20th Feb 2020

Popular actress Dame Julie Walters has bravely opened up in a TV interview with Victoria Derbyshire, revealing she was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2018.

Julie, who has starred in hit movies like Mamma Mia, Educating Rita and Billy Elliot throughout her amazing career, opened up about the diagnosis, admitting doctors found two primary tumours in her large intestine, 18 months ago.

Thankfully, after going through chemotherapy, 69-year-old Julie has now been given the all clear.

Going into details, Julie explained she first visited her GP complaining of indigestion, but this later changed to more serious symptoms such as vomiting, stomach pains and severe heartburn.

Whilst filming for her new movie The Secret Garden, which is due for release in April this year, Julie was called by the doctors following a CT scan, where she was given the heartbreaking diagnosis.

Speaking to Victoria, Julie said, “Shock. First of all, shock. And I thought ‘Right’. Then you hold on to the positive which was that he said ‘We can fix this’."

After being diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer due to disease spreading into her nearby lymph nodes, Julie was taken into surgery to have 30cm taken out of her colon.

Revealing the awful moment she had to tell her husband Grant, Julie said, “I’ll never forget his face, tears came into his eyes."

During recovery, Julie missed the Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again premiere and she's also been cut from a number of scenes in upcoming movie The Secret Garden, due to not being able to film for the blockbuster.

Despite revealing she's been given the 'all clear' during a recent scan, Julie seemingly hinted her involvement in The Secret Garden could be her last.

According to the NHS, 'Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in the UK. Most people diagnosed with it are over the age of 60.'

If you think you've got any symptoms of bowel cancer, visit the NHS website for medical advice.

We wish Julie all the best with her recovery. ❤️

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Ruairidh Tait

Northsound 1