Samantha Womack has given her Instagram followers an update on her breast cancer journey.

In a video which she shared on the social media platform on Thursday, Womack explained what was next for her as she battles the illness.

Expressing how thankful she is to be receiving messages of support from her followers, she said: “I’ve had my operation. I had a lumpectomy and lymph node removal and I am now going to start my first session of chemotherapy tomorrow but I have read all of your stories and messages. They’ve blown me away, genuinely.”

The actress is known for her role as Ronnie Mitchell on popular soap opera EastEnders, although she left the TV show in 2017 after almost a decade.

She has also starred in a number of films, television series and stage shows including comedy drama Mount Pleasant and Kingsman, the film spy series.

Womack revealed her cancer diagnosis within a tribute to the late actress Olivia Newton-John who died in August at the age of 73 following her own battle with breast cancer.