Leah Bracknell is writing a book about her battle with lung cancer.
Leah Bracknell
The former 'Emmerdale' actress was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer two years ago and has since been told her condition is stable, and now the 54-year-old star - who played Zoe Tate in the ITV soap - is telling her story by writing a memoir.
Leah began the project when she tripped over some washing at home, leaving her confined to her sofa as she recovers with "no other alternative" than to start working on her book.
Writing on her 'Something beginning with C' online diary, she said: "I tripped over some washing (I know, ridiculous, and painful!) and have been forced to slow down, to stop, confined to the static safety of the sofa out of harm's way for a few weeks.
"Good in the sense that I have no alternative but to get on with writing my book, but oh the yearning for the sweet nourishment of my heart and soul.
"No matter, the memory and promise of nature's caress inspire me daily, she is going nowhere. And neither am I."
Leah was told her cancer is "stable" last October, which is the most positive news she has received in "almost a year" after signing up to a medical trial in an attempt to defeat the disease.
She said: "I have just celebrated the second anniversary of the day I almost died. But I didn't.
"I have also just passed the two-year mark from the day on which I received a diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer.
"And last week, the long-awaited scan results from the first phase of the trial I am on, have come back with the encouraging news that, currently, the cancer is stable.
"The celebration is muted, one of relief rather than champagne and fireworks. But it is, without doubt, the most positive news to come my way in almost a year."