Cancer survivor Samantha Womack supports striking nurses, who 'have to fight back'

Watch: Samantha Womack discusses nursing strike on GMB

Samantha Womack has offered her support to the NHS nurses strike, praising healthcare workers for their help during her recent battle with breast cancer.

The former EastEnders star revealed in August that she had been diagnosed with the illness, and she underwent chemotherapy earlier this year — now stating that she is currently free of cancer.

Read more: Samantha Womack "blessed" to return to stage after diagnosis

Speaking to Good Morning Britain on Thursday, Womack said she supports the rights of nurses to go on strike amid the current cost of living crisis.

"Even at the cost of my own treatment being disrupted, I feel like they have to fight back. They’re doing such an incredible job and not being treated fairly," she said.

Thousands of NHS nurses are a part of this week's walkout, which is the first mass strike action in the 106-year history of the Royal College of Nursing.

Pay is the major reason behind the action, with the RCN arguing that nurses are 20% worse off in real terms than they were a decade ago.

Read more: Samantha Womack reveals why she won't return to EastEnders

Womack said she is a "huge advocate" for nurses and praised the NHS staff who "looked after me so fantastically" during her cancer treatment.

"I really do feel that they should be paid appropriately," she said.

Reflecting on her initial cancer diagnosis, Womack said she was "having a random check" while playing the White Witch in a theatre production of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

She said: "I was just doing a well-woman check and in between two shows I popped in to have an ultrasound, just a scan.

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"In between shows, I saw a nasty kind of gremlin-type shadow and then had to book further appointments, and I went back on stage that evening with my head a little bit in the clouds."

Womack said she was incredibly fortunate to have checked herself when she did, which was unusual for her.

She said: "I never check myself, I've just been so strong all of my life so I was really fortunate that I just happened to do that when I did.

"Certainly, the term cancer-free is a little bit misleading. Luckily I’ve got it gone for now but with cancer, you have to be careful that you’re keeping on top of everything and keep checking yourself."

Read more: Janey Godley determined to continue comedy tour despite cancer

Womack has previously said she was inspired to go public with her diagnosis following the death of acting legend Olivia Newton-John, who had publicly fought cancer for decades prior to her passing.

Good Morning Britain airs on weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and ITVX.

Watch: Samantha Womack talks about her breast cancer journey