Former Emmerdale star Leah Bracknell has written a hard-hitting 'cancer manifesto' after being given just months to live.
The actress has been battling terminal lung cancer and was given her original diagnosis two years ago.
Leah, 55, gave a speech at a cancer awareness festival last week, the Mirror reports , where she spoke about 'defying expectation' and how writing the manifesto was a reminder to 'keep your head above water'.
She said: "I wrote The Cancer Rebel's Manifesto for life as a reminder to myself what it takes to keep your head above water.
"To thrive, and to keep on keepin' on while living with cancer and defying expectation every single day."
Leah continued: "Against the fear of cancer, against my prognosis, against pity from others and myself, against being diminished by cancer.
"Against being defined by cancer, against restricted by cancer, against being bullied by cancer, and against death."
Then addressing fellow cancer survivors and the public in a poignant message: "I embrace the strength of my spirit
"I embrace every opportunity that cancer gives me to learn, to grow, to expand, I embrace the glass half full, I embrace healing, I embrace laughter, I embrace joy, I embrace hope.
"And above all else I embrace life."
Leah ended heartbreakingly ended her speech: "For I am a cancer rebel with a fierce heart, an independent mind, a warrior spirit, and an ocean of desire to keep on keeping on and making a difference and making a noise as long as there is sweet breath in my body."
Leah, who played Zoe Tate in the ITV soap from 1989 to 2005, was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in 2016.
She now writes a blog called 'Something Beginning With C' where she documents her battle.
