'Learn a lesson from me': Sherrie Hewson urges people not to put off cancer checks... as she admits she was 'stupid' for going on CBB after finding a lump in her breast
She went in to the Celebrity Big Brother house believing there was a chance she could have breast cancer.
And having gone public with her scare on Loose Women on Thursday, Sherrie Hewson has now urged people to be proactive and seek immediate medical attention should they find a lump of their own.
Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, the 65-year-old star said she had been tormented by the uncertainty inside the house and explained that she chose to keep schtum for financial reasons.
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Speaking out: Sherrie Hewson recently revealed that she had suffered from a breast cancer scare and has urged people to be proactive and seek immediate medical attention should they find a lump of their own
She told the newspaper: 'I did something very stupid and dangerous and I want to say, "Please, don't follow me. Go to the doctor without hesitation. Let somebody examine you."
'It's so frightening and I was terrified but you can't put your head in the sand. Learn a lesson from me and tell somebody,' she added.
The actress found a lump in her breast in the lead-up to her CBB appearance but put off having the biopsy she urgently needed.
Tormented: The 65-year-old star said she had been tormented with the uncertainty inside the house and has explained that she chose to keep schtum for financial reasons
The TV veteran revealed that she stupidly put her CBB pay packet ahead of her health, believing she would have needed the money if she the tests had been positive.
She now deeply regrets her stupidity for not seeking urgent medical attention and issued a heartfelt plea urging others not to follow her lead.
'It has been a terrifying time and although nobody knew, I never stopped thinking about my scare in the house, even though I was too scared to talk about it,' she confessed.
Weary: The actress found a lump in her breast in the lead-up to her CBB appearance and, terrified that it could be deadly, put off having the biopsy she urgently needed
'I figured that if I did have cancer, I wouldn't be able to work and look after my family, so I took the risk.'
Sherrie believed she would have been evicted in week one and said her hair began to fall out inside the house as the stress took hold.
She told how she was so stressed her hair began to fall out and her behaviour became erratic.
Choking back tears as she discussed her ordeal in a bid to raise awareness for breast cancer awareness month, Sherrie told the panellists: 'I had a lump a few years ago, but…only a few weeks ago, which I've never told anybody, I found another one.'
Frightened: Sherrie believed she would have been evicted in week one and said her hair began to fall out inside the house as the stress took hold
Revealing newly-dyed pink hair on the ITV1 show, the Loose Women star admitted she was too 'frightened' to do anything, as she was concerned missing out on her CBB stint could affect her earning potential.
She said: 'It was me who found it, I didn't tell anybody, I went to hospital…but I was going into the Big Brother house and I didn't want to say anything because obviously I'm working and I have to earn, I'm the only bread winner in the family.
'And stupidly, and please don't ever do this, anybody, don't not tell somebody. I went in, frightened, and came out, I went back to hospital, fortunately it was only a cyst.'
Lost and afraid: The Loose Women star admitted she was too 'frightened' to do anything, as she was concerned missing out on her CBB stint could affect her earning potential
Becoming incredibly emotional, Sherrie continued: 'All I'm saying is, my fear was A) I didn't want to know, and B) I didn't want to tell anybody.'
'It was the most stupid thing I have ever done in my life. So if anybody's listening, please don't do what I did.'
During her time in the Celebrity Big Brother house, the star was seen on camera crying in the Diary Room while wearing her pyjamas, admitting that she was feeling lost.
Sobbing into the lens, she said: 'I promised myself I wouldn't do this - cry on live television. I always think it makes people look weak.
'And I'm not weak. But there's something about this house - it's very, very stressful.'
She was also heard, while she was sat alone in the CBB kitchen, saying audibly to herself; 'What have I done? This was a mistake.
'This was such a stupid mistake. I'm not strong enough for this'.
Putting on a brave face: During her time in the Celebrity Big Brother house, the star was seen on camera crying in the Diary Room while wearing her pyjamas, admitting that she was feeling lost
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