Hollyoaks star Ali Bastian praises ‘angel’ nurse who helped her break her cancer diagnosis to her children
Former Hollyoaks star Ali Bastian has been raising her young family in West Cork since leaving the soap. Far from family, she found herself reliant on strangers when she received a shock cancer diagnosis in 2024.
In June last year, she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, after she discovered a lump in her left breast while breastfeeding her daughter Izzy.
Today, on World Cancer Day, Ali is urging communities across Ireland to turn daffodil yellow on Daffodil Day which falls on March 28 and go all in to raise vital funds and give hope to cancer patients.
‘The Irish Cancer Society has been such an invaluable support for me and my family,’ says Ali. ‘You could say they were my first port in this storm.
‘After I received my breast cancer diagnosis, I went to the Daffodil Centre at the hospital in Cork, I met with an incredible Daffodil Nurse who sat with me and offered me so much comfort and warmth.
‘She talked me through the best way to tell my children the news about my cancer and all the resources I might need to help get me through my treatment.
‘Later, when I started my chemotherapy, I had to stay overnight in the hospital. My Daffodil Nurse called up to the ward to see me in my bed, she was honestly like an angel. Having that human support, someone to hold your hand and guide you through such a challenging time – I can’t put into words what it means.’
Ali continued: ‘I am still navigating my experience with cancer, but I want anyone going through something similar to know, you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help. We all live in a world where we try to be as independent as possible, but going through something like cancer, it is so important to let in as much love and support as possible.
‘It’s predicted one in two of us will hear the words ‘you’ve got cancer’ in our lifetimes. Each and every person should experience the same level of support and care that I had, I want to pay it forward, so I am encouraging everyone to support Daffodil Day in whatever way they can.
‘None of these incredible, vital supports would exist without the public’s generosity on Daffodil Day and I really can’t fathom how different my cancer experience would have been without them. So please, go all in against cancer this Daffodil Day to give hope to every person facing this disease in Ireland.’
Today the Irish Cancer Society is also launching new, holistic services to meet some of the unmet needs of cancer patients across Ireland. These free services include a Diet and Exercise programme, helping to improve cancer patients’ quality of life following a cancer diagnosis.
They are also introducing a Welfare and Supports service, which will work to address additional challenges facing patients and their families by advising on issues like social welfare entitlements, medical card applications, housing and mortgages, childcare or talking to your workplace about your diagnosis.
To access these services, contact the Irish Cancer Society Support Line on Free- phone 1800 200 700 or at cancer.ie.
‘Hearing ‘it’s cancer’ can be such a confusing and vulnerable time for people, but we at the Irish Cancer Society are here to help,’ says Averil Power of the Irish Cancer Society. ‘Our new services help to meet the unmet needs of cancer patients and their families.
‘Misinformation around diet and cancer is rife, and for someone who’s just been diagnosed, it can be easy to go down a rabbit hole of alleged cancer cures or diets… Time and again we hear from patients who are struggling to navigate the financial and practical issues a cancer diagnosis brings.
‘Our Welfare & Supports team offer free tailored advice to anyone who needs support on things like accessing financial and practical supports when going through cancer.’
Daffodil Day takes place on Friday, March 28. Visit cancer.ie to get involved or learn more.
