Actress Alex Kingston is sharing her journey with uterine cancer, revealing how she initially dismissed symptoms before receiving her diagnosis.
Ignoring the Signs
In the April issue of Prima, the Doctor Who alum explained that her body had been giving her warning signs, including bloating, weight gain, and injuries that weren’t healing properly.
“Because I’m such a positive person, even though my body was trying to tell me that something was very wrong, I wasn’t reading the signs,” Kingston said.
She admitted she attributed the changes to aging, believing they were simply part of life in her 60s.
A Scary Turning Point
Kingston recalled a frightening moment while performing on stage when she began hemorrhaging. At first, she thought it was a burst fibroid, never suspecting cancer. The diagnosis came as a shock.
Treatment and Recovery
The ER actress revealed last October that she underwent radiation therapy and a hysterectomy to treat the cancer. Though the diagnosis was difficult to accept, Kingston said the surgery gave her a renewed sense of self.
“The minute I had the operation, I suddenly felt like myself again,” she shared.
Choosing to Go Public
Initially, Kingston wanted to keep her diagnosis private. She worried that speaking out would shift focus away from her career and toward her illness. But after receiving supportive responses, she realized the importance of sharing her experience.
“If nothing else, it’s important to encourage people that if their body is behaving in a slightly unusual way, don’t just write it off as being old or suddenly becoming gluten intolerant. It could be something else and to go and have it checked,” she said.
Raising Awareness
Kingston now feels that opening up was the right decision. By sharing her story, she hopes to encourage others to pay attention to their bodies and seek medical advice when something feels off. Her candidness highlights the importance of recognizing symptoms early and not dismissing them as part of aging.
