rewrite this content and keep HTML tags
Australian star Denise Scott has revealed how she was diagnosed with a “particularly aggressive” breast cancer while working on a new TV show.
The actor and comedian – who played Trish Goss on the popular Australian drama series Winners & Losers – was working on a reboot of the ABC show Mother and Son when she received the life-changing diagnosis six months ago.
Prior to the news, Scott had been suffering from an angry, red rash.
Stream the world’s best reality, entertainment and true crime shows for free on 7Bravo on 7plus >>
“Originally, the GP said it could be mastitis,” the 68-year-old said in an interview with The Australian Women’s Weekly.
But further tests revealed Scott was instead suffering from breast cancer – and it was aggressive.
With Scott due to begin filming imminently, she was left reeling.
“This production meant a lot to me,” she told the publication.
“But the doctors were making it clear: ‘You have to start chemotherapy within days.’
“I don’t know who first suggested I try to do both, which in hindsight was insane. I think it was me.
“I was thinking, I don’t want to shut this whole production down, and I was also thinking, I want to live.”
Scott went on to juggle cancer treatment with working life – suffering sometimes from overwhelming pain.
The production company went so far as to provide her with a body double who stood in for her when necessary.
“Tracy – I would not have been able to do it without her,” Scott said.
Scott revealed her prognosis was “good” and “there’s a lot of hope”, but spoke candidly of how it has impacted her.
“It’s been very humbling in that I thought I would be a terrific person in my own health crisis. I thought I would be one of those people who is upbeat, positive, taking it on the chin, never complains,” Scott said.
“Oh no. I complained to (husband) John all the time.”
It’s not the only ordeal Scott has endured.
In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald in 2017, she told how she had gone through a particularly difficult time in 2016.
“I spent a lot of 2016 – and I mean a lot of time – lying on my bed. Just sort of lying there,” she said.
“And it was, apart from the fact that my arthritis had gotten really bad, it was like … my dog had died, my kids live overseas, there were no parents left to look after and I didn’t have work.
“I really lost my mojo a bit.
“So yeah, I sort of thought I might just lie down for a minute and a year went by.”
If you need help in a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For further information about depression contact beyondblue on 1300224636 or talk to your GP, local health professional or someone you trust.
For more engaging celebrity content, visit 7Life on Facebook.
If you’d like to view this content, please adjust your .
To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide.