Emmerdale star Eden Taylor-Draper opens up about sister’s cancer journey
Emmerdale Soap Scoop! Bear goes on trial
Emmerdale star Eden Taylor-Draper has opened up about the journey that her sister, Francesca, has gone on since being diagnosed with cancer. The actor, who plays Belle Dingle in the ITV soap, spoke in a new film from the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Francesca, who is called Chessie by her close friends and family, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia as a 14-year-old in 2018, and has undergone treatment in the subsequent years.
The pair sat down with the Teenage Cancer Trust as part of the charity’s ‘Cancer Conversations’ campaign, which can be watched on YouTube, and discussed how Chessie’s diagnosis had brought them closer together.
“I don’t know if we would have ever connected the way we have,” said Eden. “We were friends before, as well as sisters. But now, you’re literally my best friend. I speak to you all day, every day.”
Reflecting on the moment of their diagnosis, Chessie said they felt as if they “couldn’t breathe” after being “winded”, adding that nobody – let alone a 14-year-old – is “prepared to have that conversation”.
“That is one of the biggest memories and conversations that just stand out to me because obviously it marks the beginning of the next two years of my life,” she added, with Eden saying that cancer and leukaemia were “scary” words.
Chessie recalled that the treatment began to take a toll on her mental health, and this is where she found Eden as a pillar of support. The actor, who joined the soap in 2005, said that her sister’s mental health had greatly affected her.
“I think your mental health affected me more than your physical health at certain points,” she explained. “Your brain was just so dark. You’d say stuff to me and I’d be like, ‘I can’t say this to mum and dad’.”
Eden continued: “When I was with you, I think I was very good at being strong, and I wouldn’t let it get to me. I had to be able to joke my way through things. But the minute I wasn’t with you, I was a mess.”
The sisters credited the Teenage Cancer Trust, as well as a specialist unit at
Leeds General Infirmary, for providing an environment in which Chessie could open up about her feelings without judgment. Eden said Chessie got “brighter” after talking more.
“The support workers introduced me to new people, and they made me feel confident to start these conversations as well,” recalled Chessie. “I really appreciated the way that they spoke to me and explained things. They were so lovely.”
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Leukaemia at 14 | Eden & Chessie’s Story
Eden also offered some advice for any families going through a similar scenario, sharing: “Be as normal as you can be. Don’t let it get in the way of being a sister, brother, auntie or cousin.
“Also bring so much light and just chat about your day apart from that, like something you’ve been up to or something you’ve read.”
Chessie noted: “Siblings shouldn’t feel guilty if they can’t cope with it.”