Soap star's battle with cancer mirrors that of character

The 46-year-old, who plays Sally Webster, was diagnosed with the disease last year as she researched the illness for her TV role.

Despite the blow, the mother of three carried on acting and filmed the show's poignant Christmas Day scenes when she told cheating husband Kevin about her news.

Miss Whittaker has opened her heart to Hello! magazine, and is pictured in the latest edition shorn of her familiar blonde locks.

She told about the moment she received her diagnosis in October with her screenwriter husband Tim Dynevor – and immediately thought of her children.

"We got in the car and I cried like I'd never cried before in my life," the actress told the magazine."It was uncontrollable sobbing. I didn't want to die. I would hate to be on a fluffy cloud looking down on them. I had to be there to see them grow up."

About eight million viewers tuned in to see her character drop the disease bombshell on Kevin, played by Michael Le Vell.

But while Sally had a successful lumpectomy, Miss Whittaker has endured months of radiotherapy. She credits her children – Phoebe, 15, Sam, 13, and six-year-old Hattie – with helping her through the worst.

"Every time the children come in and say, 'Oh Mum, why haven't we got any chocolate biscuits?' it snaps me back into mum mode and takes my mind off it," she told Hello!

"Other times, when I've been feeling at my absolute worst, Hattie has said to me, 'Oh Mummy, you are so beautiful'. Without them knowing, they have got me through this."