EastEnders’ Sam confirms her cancer test results during heart-to-heart | Soaps

As EastEnders viewers prepared to welcome back the Mitchell Princess, Sam (Kim Medcalf), last year, they were probably expecting another does of her patented blend of sex, criminal capers and shoddy parenting.

Even with the pre-return announcement that Sam’s return would involve a cancer plot, the shock of the perennially devilish diva returning as a frightened, vulnerable shell of her former self was a shock.

While she initially took her typically chaotic approach to things, cruelly manipulating the dementia suffering-Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley) and stealing the contents of big brother, Phil’s (Steve McFadden) safe, it was in the presence of her son, Ricky Branning (Frankie Day), that she began to waver.

Young Ricky could tell something was wrong when she told him that she was trying to secure him a nest-egg to help with his future. As she lamented her failings as a mother, Ricky was left unnerved.

Confronted by baby daddy Jack (Scott Maslen) and Phil, Sam’s front faltered, and it became incredibly apparent how terrified she truly was that she’d lose her life to the same illness that claimed her beloved mum, Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor).

With the support of Phil, Jack and various other Walford residents, Sam found the courage to fight back. Once officially diagnosed with breast cancer, she received a date for her lumpectomy and told Ricky the truth about her condition.

Sam faced an agonising wait for her results, but they came, and in the middle of a verbal catfight with frenemy and former co-conspirator, Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman), she revealed that she was cancer free.

As she faced a return to Portugal to begin a gruelling course of radiotherapy, she learned from Lily Slater (Lillia Turner) that Ricky desperately wanted her to stay and Sam had a moment to take everything in.

A character always defined by her utter selfishness and single-minded focus on herself had grown to become a loving, dependable mum, a supportive sister and a confidante to Zack Hudson (James Farrar), George Knight (Colin Salmon), Julie Bates (Karen Henthorn) and even former enemies like Chrissie, Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) and Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan)…and she decided to stay, beginning her radiotherapy treatment, leaning on Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) as it took both a physical and emotional toll on her.

Next week sees her resume her role as support system for Zack, as he struggles with the upcoming wedding between Ross Marshall (Alex Walkinshaw) and Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig), with whom he’s been fighting a growing attraction.

As the respective stag and hen parties begin, Zack opens his heart to Sam, and tells her of his recent tryst with Vicki, as well as the undeniable connection between them, moments before he’s forced to act as a stripper for her…

The following day, Zack lays it on the line for Vicki, who rejects him. He heads to Harry’s Barn to sink a few drinks before he’s joined by Sam. As the two engage in another heart to heart, she reveals that further tests have shown that she remains all clear for cancer.

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That’s right. She faced it, fought it and won. That’s our girl.

MORE: EastEnders legend stages return as Sam Mitchell opens up on cancer treatment