Emmerdale’s Eden Taylor-Draper broke down in tears after learning her sister Francesca had cancer

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Emmerdale’s Eden Taylor-Draper reveals she broke down in tears on set after learning her sister Francesca, 16, had been diagnosed with cancer

By Laura Fox For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Emmerdale star Eden Taylor-Draper has recalled the heartbreaking moment she learned her sister Francesca had been diagnosed with cancer.

The actress, 22, revealed she was in the middle of filming when her dad called her to reveal the devastating diagnosis, and took a break from the soap for a month to be at her sister’s side.

Francesca, now 16, was 14 when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and endured months of gruelling chemotherapy, and is set to complete her maintenance treatment in September.

Emotional: Emmerdale star Eden Taylor-Draper has recalled the heartbreaking moment she learned her sister Francesca had been diagnosed with cancer (pictured together in 2019) 

Eden – who has played Belle Dingle on the soap since 2005 – revealed Francesca was first rushed to hospital for tests in May 2018 after experiencing pains in her legs, and hours later was diagnosed with cancer.

The soap star explained she was in the middle of filming when she heard the news, telling The Mirror: ‘When I came off set for my tea break, Dad called and it was such a blur. I felt like someone had ripped my stomach out and I broke down.

‘I was with Issy Hodgins, who plays Victoria [Sugden], when I got the call, and she just held me for ages.’

Sad: The actress revealed she was in the middle of filming as Belle Dingle when her dad called her to reveal the devastating diagnosis

Sad: The actress revealed she was in the middle of filming as Belle Dingle when her dad called her to reveal the devastating diagnosis

She added: ‘I couldn’t go back to do my next scene. But Emmerdale were so supportive and let me go see Chess at Leeds General hospital straight away.’

Francesca had to endure four rounds of chemotherapy, lost her hair and even contracted sepsis during her treatment.

She stayed on the Teenage Cancer Trust ward at Leeds General Infirmary during her treatment.

Close: Eden said she took a break from the soap to be at her sister's bedside after she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, as she endured months of chemotherapy

Close: Eden said she took a break from the soap to be at her sister’s bedside after she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, as she endured months of chemotherapy

Eden was also written out of Emmerdale for a month so she could be with her family, and recalled spending hours cuddling Francesca and watching films at her bedside.

Francesca finished her chemotherapy in December 2018, and is currently still undergoing maintenance treatments and taking daily tablets, but hopes to begin studying for her A-Levels in September.

She is set to appear in a film produced by a Teenage Cancer Trust as an emergency appeal, as the charity is set to lose 50% of its funding due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Hopeful: Francesca finished her chemotherapy in December 2018, and is currently still undergoing maintenance treatments but hopes to begin her A-Levels in September

Hopeful: Francesca finished her chemotherapy in December 2018, and is currently still undergoing maintenance treatments but hopes to begin her A-Levels in September

WHAT IS LEUKAEMIA?

Leukaemia is a cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue, usually the bone marrow.

It leads to the over-production of abnormal white blood cells, which fight off infections. 

But a higher number of white blood cells means there is ‘less room’ for other cells, including red blood cells – which transport oxygen around the body – and platelets – which cause blood to clot when the skin is cut.

There are many different types of leukaemia, which are defined according to the immune cells they affect and how the disease progresses.

For all types combined, 9,900 people in the UK were diagnosed with leukaemia in 2015, Cancer Research UK statistics reveal.

And in the US, around 60,300 people were told they had the disease last year, according to the National Cancer Institute. 

Most cases have no obvious cause, with the cancer not being contagious or inherited.

Leukaemia generally becomes more common with age – the exception being acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which peaks in children.

Other risk factors include being male, exposed to certain chemicals or radiation, and some bone-marrow disorders.

Symptoms are generally vague and get worse over time.

These can include:

  • Tiredness
  • Frequent infections
  • Sweats
  • Bruising
  • Heavy periods, nose bleeds or bleeding gums
  • Palpitations 
  • Shortness of breath

Acute leukaemia – which progresses rapidly and aggressively – is often curable via chemo, radiotherapy or a stem cell transplant.

Chronic forms of the disease – which typically progress slowly – tend to incurable, however, these patients can often live with the disease. 

Source: Leukaemia Care