Former Emmerdale star Roxanne Pallett reveals she almost lost a breast to skin cancer

The 31-year-old, who played Jo Sugden in the ITV1 soap, had to have emergency surgery after spotting a pea-sized mark near her nipple while taking a shower

Former Emmerdale actress Roxanne Pallett has revealed she almost lost a breast to a rare form of skin cancer.

The 31-year-old, who played Jo Sugden in the ITV1 soap, was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery and spent Christmas hoping surgeons had caught the tumour in time.

After a four week wait for test results, she was given the all-clear days ago.

However, doctors told he that if the tumour had been allowed to grow for one more week she could have lost her left breast.

Roxanne, who has been left with a permanent one inch scar above her nipple, told The Sun on Sunday: “They were just hoping they had caught it in time.

“If they hadn’t and the cancer had spread then I would have needed further surgery and chemotherapy immediately.

“I refused to break down because there are people who are worse off than me and it would have been an insult to them.”

She first noticed a pea-sized, discoloured mark near her left nipple while having a shower.

After mentioning it during a routine health check, she was referred to a skin specialist the next day – and was told she needed an immediate operation.

“I woke up feeling like a forklift truck had dropped a ton of bricks on my chest,” Roxanne told the paper.

“It hurt to hug anybody.”

She added: “My scar is just above the nipple by the bra line but I’m going to make a point about not having reconstructive surgery — especially considering the job I do.

“I thought being operated on and having a scar on your breast would mean you lose your femininity — but you don’t.

“You feel more feminine — because you feel more powerful as your body has won.

“I hope the next guy I meet will be so amazing he won’t care.

“I’ll try to distract him with some lush lingerie instead.”

Source The Mirror