Terminally ill Leah Bracknell reveals heartbreaking fears over leaving her daughters behind

Leah Bracknell

by Emma Dodds |
Updated on

Former Emmerdale actress Leah Bracknell has revealed that her terminal cancer makes her worry for her children

Leah Bracknell was diagnosed with terminal cancer two years ago.

After the cancer was missed by four GPs in the space of 10 days, she took herself to A&E - but devastatingly, it was too late, and she was diagnosed with inoperable and incurable stage 4 lung cancer.

GALLERY: Top skin expert reveals her top 7 tips for keeping you skin healthy in winter

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Abigail James' top 7 tips for healthy skin in winter (slider)

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skin

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1. Say goodbye to unnecessary chemicals

"Some fragrances and colours are skin irritants and have no actual benefits for the skin - they simply look and smell nice. "According to the research almost two thirds of British women are concerned about the chemicals in their personal care products so my advice would be to avoid unnecessary chemical ingredients and look for shower gels and deodorants that are kinder to skin - such as the Sanex Zero% range which is formulated with 0% colourants, 0% soap and 0% parabens."

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2. Avoid low fat diets

"When it comes to holistic health, achieving a healthy balance is really important. Choose healthy fats for healthy cell function – this can be added into your diet through foods such as avocadoes, fish, nuts and seeds and plant oils such as flax and hemp. "Another tip is to ditch the processed margarines. If you're going to have butter then make it organic natural butter which has less synthetic ingredients."

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3. Try light exercise

"Getting up and moving daily will boost circulation, and getting your muscles moving will increase your levels of 'happy' hormones or endorphins and blood flow. This in turn will give your skin a lovely healthy glow. "It doesn't matter whether it's a light stroll or training at the gym, as long as you're moving your skin will feel the benefits."

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4. Get an early night

"Lack of sleep increases the visible appearance of ageing, such as dark circles caused by sluggish circulation."With that in mind say goodbye to your phone or tablet at least an hour before going to bed and try to get a good night's sleep – your skin will thank you for it."

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5. Reduce sugar intake

"A high intake of sugar can cause an inflammatory reaction within the skin resulting in a whole host of skin conditions, from acne and rosacea to premature ageing and dry skin. "A little treat every now and then won't hurt, but try to keep an eye on your sugar levels if you're looking to keep skin healthy."

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6. Curb the caffeine

"Too much coffee or caffeinated drinks can put extra stress on the liver and digestive system which impacts your body's natural detoxification process. "This build-up of toxins can have a negative effect on the health of your skin causing issues such as dry skin, redness and sensitivity."

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7. Skincare shouldn't stop at your face

"There can often be a temptation to focus on the health of the skin on our faces but we must remember that the whole body is covered in skin which is the largest organ of your body – so we need to make sure we are giving it the care it deserves."Our skin absorbs a percentage of the products we apply, so choose products that are gentle on skin with natural moisturisers."

But in that time, 53-year-old Leah has appeared to keep a level head and has stayed positive, appearing on Loose Women to talk about how she lives with the illness.

She even keeps fans updated on her life through her blog, Something Beginning With C, where she details how things have been going for her.

Her most recent post is utterly heartbreaking, as she explains that she's "devastated" for her two daughters Maya and Lily, who are both in their early 20's.

She wrote: "As a parent, one’s fear of dying multiplies. I don’t know if that really is the case, but it’s the only perspective I have."

The former Emmerdale actress then wanted to put a "positive spin" on a "devastating situation" and wrote: "I am only grateful that my children are adults, they are on their way, they have weathered the storms of childhood and adolescence and beginning to carve out lives independent from parental influence."

Leah Bracknell
Leah starred as Zoe Tate on Emmerdale for 16 years ©REX/Shutterstock

She then spoke about what every parent fears: "That I may not be around to witness milestones, or be a shoulder and support for whatever challenges life brings motivates me and inspires me to live by example, to pay it forward."

Leah added that if her daughters were able to "dare to love," then she would be happy: "I am still doing my job, from that little place in their hearts where time and space are eternal."

WATCH: Leah Bracknell tells the Loose Women how she is able to stay positive in the face of her terminal cancer diagnosis

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