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Former Emmerdale star opens up over dad's cancer battle

Photo credit: Gemma Oaten Instagram
Photo credit: Gemma Oaten Instagram

From Digital Spy

Former Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten has opened up over her dad's cancer battle in an emotional Instagram post.

The actress – who's best known for her role as Rachel Breckle in the ITV soap – announced on social media over the weekend that her father's cancer had returned.

Dennis Oaten was placed in remission in 2016 after battling prostate cancer, but Gemma says the disease has now come back with "a vengeance" and is pushing to his lymph nodes.

Alongside a photograph of her and her father, Gemma wrote: "Overwhelmed by the love and support of this man. My Dad. He is just one (I'm fortunate to have many sw) of the most amazing men in my life.

"He is all. My world. I think I'm allowed to say now that prostate cancer is back again with a vengeance and pushing to lymph nodes.

"But. BUT. That's OK, because this man, my Dad, Is a fighter. Praying for all good outcomes for all good."

Photo credit: ITV
Photo credit: ITV

Last year, Gemma spoke about her devastation at discovering her father had cancer, saying to The Mirror: "I got a phone call from my parents to tell me my dad had cancer and I felt my whole world had collapsed.

"I'd gone from getting this life-changing role in Emmerdale to finding out my dad might die. It was utterly horrendous. Seeing your dad struggle is heartbreaking. But I kept going for him and thankfully he's still with us."

Gemma, who revealed earlier this year that she's been suffering from panic attacks since leaving the soap, played Rachel from 2011 to 2014 – reprising the role briefly in 2015.

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7pm on ITV, with an extra episode at 8pm on Thursdays.


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