Grange Hill star reveals terrifying moment she discovered she had cancer

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Michelle Herbert is best-known for playing Trisha Yates in Grange Hill
Spotted dimple in her breast while drying her hair naked
Had all-clear from from breast cancer after mastectomy
Actress is now urging other women to look out for symptoms

Published: 13:30 EST, 9 September 2015 | Updated: 02:10 EST, 10 September 2015

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Michelle Herbert, best-known for appearing in BBC show Grange Hill, is warning women to be vigilant after she discovered she had breast cancer by chance.

The 50-year-old mother, who played bad girl Trisha Yates in the school drama from 1978 to 1982, was diagnosed three months ago after noticing a small dimple on her breast while on holiday.

Michelle, who lives in Dundee, explained: 'In May, I was staying in Rome and I was drying my hair in the hotel room.

Michelle Herbert is urging other women to check their breasts for dimples after she discovered she had cancer when she was drying her hair

The actress played Trisha Yates in Grange Hill from 1978 to 1982

'It was one of those hairdryers attached to the wall by the mirror, so I had to lift my arms up. As I was just out of the shower, I didn't have a top on - that's when I noticed there was a small dimple on my breast.

'It was only there when I lifted my arms up, and when I put them down by my side again, it was gone.

'I was worried and went for a doctor's appointment straight after coming back to the UK.'

Michelle, who no longer works as an actress but runs a glazing company with her husband, was diagnosed with breast cancer after a number of tests.

She was recently given the all-clear after a mastectomy.

The mother said she's sharing her story to raise awareness of the lesser-known symptoms of breast cancer and is urging women to check their breasts for dimples.

Michelle with (left) nurse Rachael Drummond, friend of her daughter, and (right) daughter Chloe Anderson, who have supported her through her ordeal

She said: 'All the breast cancer campaigns focus on looking for lumps but I didn't have any.

'All I had was dimpling of the skin - it's not something you'd notice on a daily basis.

'Not many people stand in front of the mirror lifting their arms up but that's the only way you could have seen it, so I urge women to do this.

'Even my doctor wasn't sure there was something wrong just by looking at me.

'I had a mammogram, an ultrasound and a biopsy, and they detected a medium-growth tumour, which was 6mm in size.

'I was shocked, but I had an inkling it was cancer because of my family's history.'

Both Michelle's mother and her aunt have had a mastectomy previously following breast cancer scares.

Michelle, front row left, with the original cast of 'Grange Hill', series one, back (l-r) Vincent Hall as Michael Doyle, George Armstrong as Alan Humphries, Mark Eadie as Andrew Stanton, unidentified male, Todd Carty as Tucker, unidentified female, Terry Sue Patt as Benny Green and Robert Morgan as Justin Bennett. Front (l-r) Michelle Herbert, Lyndy Brill as Cathy, Linda Slater as Susi McMahon and Ruth Davies as Penny Lewis

In July, Michelle had a lumpectomy - surgery to get rid of the tumour - followed by a mastectomy. She then had reconstruction surgery to restore the appearance of her breast.

However one night she woke up feeling unwell and noticed her breast was swollen to unnatural proportions.

It turned out she had haematoma - a blood clot caused by a ruptured blood vessel inside the breast tissue.

Michelle said: 'I was really ill and they had to drain blood from my breast. There was even talk of me needing a blood transfusion, but thankfully I recovered. On August 24 I was told I no longer had cancer.

Michelle, centre, has now had the all-clear following a mastectomy

'I want to thank all the medical staff who looked after me, as well as my daughter Chloe Anderson and her friend Rachael Drummond, who is a nurse. They've supported me so much.'

Chloe, 21, is now taking part in various fundraising campaigns to raise money for the Breast Cancer Care charity.

She said: 'Because it was all over so quickly, my mum's illness hasn't really sunk in.'

Michelle starred in the first five series of Grange Hill between 1978 and 1982. After leaving the show, she settled in Dundee running the family business All Glass and Glazing.

GRANGE HILL SCHOOL LEAVERS - WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Michelle Herbert gave up acting after leaving the school corridors of Grange Hill behind, but what became of her other classmates?

Todd Carty (Peter 'Tucker' Jenkins

Todd Carty remains one of the show's most famous alumni having remained on TV screens since the first series aired in 1978. His Grange Hill character was so popular, he was given his own spin-off show Tucker’s Luck from 1983-1985.

Todd Carty, pictured today, left, has remained on TV screens in shows such as EastEnders and Dancing On Ice since he first found fame as Tucker, right on Grange Hill

He then starred as Mark Fowler in EastEnders from 1990-2003 before playing the villainous PC Gabriel Kent in The Bill.

As well as continuing to act on stage and screen, he's also delved into producing and directing and made a memorable appearance on Dancing On Ice because of his lack of flair for the sport.

He most recently appeared on Celebrity Masterchef and this Christmas he will appear in panto in Dick Whittington in Fareham.

George Armstrong (Alan Humphries)

George Armstrong, who played Alan Humphries from 1979-1982, celebrated his 53rd birthday this week. After Grange Hill, he went on to appear in spin-off show Tucker's Luck and then played PC Driscoll in The Bill in 1989. He eventually gave up acting and became a Technical Theatre Manager at exclusive girls' school Roedean in Sussex.

George Armstrong played Alan Humphries, right, until 1982 and went on to work at Roedean School

Terry Sue-Patt (Benny Green)

As Benny Green, Terry Sue-Pratt was the first character to ever be seen on the show and became one of the most popular characters.

He was discovered aged 14 by a talent scout while playing football in the park and enjoyed success in 1989 film The Firm, starring alongside Gary Oldman and Phil Davis.

Terry Sue-Pratt died earlier this year and is much-missed by his co-stars who fondly remember him from the days he played Benny Green, right

He also had minor roles in other TV shows including Desmonds, General Hospital and Jackanory

Tributes poured in earlier this year when he was found dead in his London home at the age of 50.

Alison Bettles (Fay Lucas)

Alison Bettles, now 46, played Fay Lucas from 1982 to 1987. She continued acting with small roles in The Bill and No Strings in the Eighties and Nineties and last appeared on British TV screens in London's Burning in 2001.

Now a mother of four, left, Alison Bettles has barely aged since she played Fay Lucas, right

Now married with four children, she has reportedly set up a freight business while two of her sons have followed on her footsteps by taking up acting and have won roles in Doctor Who and EastEnders.

Erkan Mustafa (Roland Browning)

Erkan Mustafa found fame in the Eighties as Roland 'Roly' Browning who was bullied for being obese. After leaving the school drama in 1987, he went on to act in Chef! and Blackadder.

Erkan Mustafa found fame in the Eighties as Roland 'Roly' Browning, right, who was bullied for being obese. Today, left, he continues to act, write and direct

Now 45, he continues to act, write and direct according to his Twitter profile and makes public appearances at charity events.

Lee MacDonald (Zammo McGuire)

Lee MacDonald character was the star of one of Grange Hill's most hardhitting storylines when his character Zammo became addicted to heroin. As a result, he became involved in a number of anti-drugs campaigns encouraging youngsters to 'just say no'. He had a single of the same name that reached number five in the charts in 1986.

Lee MacDonald, left, appears as himself on TV shows like Celebrity Pointless and runs a locksmith business after starring as Zammo in Grange Hill, right

Now 45 and a father, he remains in the public eye appearing as himself on shows such as Celebrity Scissorhands and Celebrity Pointless. He also runs a locksmith business in Wallington, Surrey.

Michael Cronin (Mr Baxter)

Now in his early seventies, Michael Cronin from Bedfordshire has had had a prolific acting career since starring as teacher Mr 'Bullet' Baxter. He has appeared in shows including Merlin and Doctors and most recently Law and Order. He's also appeared on stage and become a writer with three children's novels and a number of screenplays to his name.