The LGBTQIA+ icon spoke on the 94% podcast about her experience through treatment and surgery
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY KIERON MCCARRON/BBC
Heather Peace has opened up about her life post-cancer treatment on a new episode of the 94% podcast. The Eastenders star and queer icon spoke to The L Word’s Rachel Shelley and former international hockey and cricket player Nikki Symmons about her experience following her cancer diagnosis.
Last month, Heather revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer last October. Sharing a video of her trying on a wig, Heather revealed that she had gone through treatment over the Christmas period.
Speaking on the 94% podcast, Heather spoke about pursuing fitness following her cancer treatment: “I think coming through what I’ve come through, if I don’t get back on and get going with it, I think it will be instrumental for the rest of my life. It’s now that I need to absolutely focus in on that otherwise I’m just accepting deterioration. I won’t accept it at all. I want to be fit and I want to be strong. It’s such a good feeling when you’re at your top.”
The 94% podcast spotlights a number of fabulous women who have all been shaped by sporting experiences in their lives. In fact, statistics say that 94% of women working in C-suite executive roles played sport, half of those at university level. Having already showcased episodes with stars like Jennifer Beals and Adele Roberts, the podcast is a tribute to the power of sport.
Alongside her fitness journey, Heather also spoke about why it had been so crucial to continue working on Eastenders. “I needed work as well,” she said. “I needed that for my mental health. I have a fantastic cast of friends who just absolutely enveloped me and made me feel safe. A day at work just absolutely lifted my spirits and made me laugh and made me feel loved. I felt very vulnerable. I felt I lost a bit of my confidence… but it’s coming back now.”
Eastenders started this year with a bang, finally showing the rather dramatic – but also incredibly touching – wedding between Suki and Eve. The show has been praised for its LGBTQIA+ representation, providing fans everywhere with a sapphic storyline they can root for.
You can listen to Heather’s episode on the 94% podcast now:
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