Denise Fox (Diane Parish) was left devastated in EastEnders after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), breaking down in Yolande Trueman’s (Angela Wynter) arms in the aftermath. The beloved Walford matriarch had been worried about her health due to frequent bouts of overwhelming tiredness. Following encouragement from Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf), she decided to visit the doctor.
Diagnosis and Immediate Reaction
On the day of Ross Marshall (Alex Walkinshaw) and Vicki Fowler’s (Alice Haig) wedding, Denise was summoned to the hospital for a bone marrow aspirate test. She later learned she has AML, a rare form of blood cancer requiring immediate treatment. Devastated, she struggled to process the news and headed to the salon, where she asked her smart speaker Iggy questions about the condition. The show favourite, who recently marked 20 years on the Square, was incredibly emotional to learn the survival rates for AML—and the even lower survival rates for Black people.
Yolande Offers Support
Yolande, who suspected Denise had something on her mind, arrived at the salon to get answers. Denise attempted to keep her diagnosis to herself, evading Yolande’s questions and pushing her away. However, she was ultimately consumed with devastation at the mention of her young son Raymond, breaking down in Yolande’s arms. In heart-wrenching scenes, powered by performances from Diane Parish and Angela Wynter, Denise shared her diagnosis with Yolande. Yolande wasted no time offering comfort and support, as Denise feared becoming a burden to her loved ones.
Reflecting on Past Trauma
Denise recalled her abuse at the hands of villainous exes Lucas Johnson (Don Gilet) and Owen Turner (Lee Ross), noting that even through all her torment, she never lost the urge to survive. However, she felt her diagnosis was different. Yolande reminded her that she survived everything those men put her through, reiterating that she can survive cancer too. Denise was grateful for her powerful words.
Upcoming Challenges
The matriarch will face more emotional scenes ahead, as her grandson Jordan Fox was knocked down outside the wedding venue. EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One or streams from 6am on BBC iPlayer.
