Coronation Street star Victoria Ekanoye has said she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
The awful news comes after the actress, who portrayed Angie Appleton in the ITV soap, welcomed her baby son into the world.
Victoria gave birth to her first child Théodore with partner Jonny Lomas in January this year before announcing his arrival in March.
She was diagnosed with cancer seven months later.
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"Theo is so young and the thought of not being here for him isn’t something we even really want to entertain," Victoria told OK! Magazine.
"I was diagnosed on the thirteenth of October with DCIS, which is Ductal carcinoma in situ. It basically means that the cells have turned cancerous within the milk ducts."
She added: "It’s a really big change within in the family, as there is just this really big unknown, I guess, for us now.
"We’re being really optimistic, and positive, and really lucky that we’ve caught it as early as we have. I don’t know if lucky is the right word, but that’s how I feel."
Victoria, who has sickle cell disease, found a lump in her left breast in July while breastfeeding Théo.
She said her mum had breast cancer at 41, and her mum's sister at 39.
Victoria was given the all-clear by two doctors but still feeling something wasn’t quite right, she sought a third opinion.
After four-and-a-half hours of checks, the 39-year-old was subsequently diagnosed with breast cancer
Victoria added to OK!: "This is going to sound so cheesy, but I almost feel like having Théo and breastfeeding him has saved me.
"Had I never been fortunate enough to be able to breastfeed, those lumps would never have come up the way they did."
Victoria, who also starred as Rachel in hit US drama The Royals, is now set to undergo a double mastectomy.
She will also have reconstructive surgery at the same time.
Asked if she has told any of her former Corrie co-stars about her diagnosis, Victoria said: "Yeah. We stay in touch. I’ve spoken to Nicola Thorp, Faye Brookes, Sair Khan, Bhavna Limbachia, Patti Clare and Paddy Wallace.
"They’re all amazing and supportive."
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