BBC Share By Joel Harley Dec 9 2025 By Joel Harley Dec 9 2025 As Sam fears she's 'dying' of breast cancer like her mum, remembering the tragic death of Peggy Mitchell Peggy was the first EastENders character to be diagnosed with cancer Features Peggy Mitchell Sam Mitchell Share By Joel Harley Dec 9 2025 By Joel Harley Dec 9 2025 Sam Mitchell revealed her breast cancer fears in EastEnders this week, as she faces a fate once suffered by her mum, Peggy Mitchell. Backed into a corner by Jack last night, Sam was forced to admit that she’s found a lump, and thinks that she’s dying. Sam shares more details in EastEnders tonight (Tuesday, December 9), as Jack presses her to get help from a doctor. But, having seen her own mother die of breast cancer, Sam is convinced that her fate is a foregone conclusion. But what happened with Peggy Mitchell? And is Sam set for a similar tragic end? Peggy was diagnosed with cancer in 1996 (Credit: BBC/YouTube) Peggy Mitchell diagnosed with breast cancer in EastEnders In 1996, doctors diagnosed Peggy with breast cancer for the first time. This made her the first character on the soap to receive such a diagnosis; the implications of which would have far-reaching consequences for Peggy, her family, and the soap for years to come. After initially refusing treatment, Peggy underwent a lumpectomy. In 1997, she was given the all-clear at a follow-up mammogram – although the soap would revisit the storyline many time during Peggy’s tenure in Walford. Article continues below Read all the latest spoilers When the cancer returned for the first time in 1999, Peggy then had a mastectomy, from which she also recovered in full – undergoing a breast reconstruction one year later. Peggy learned that the cancer had spread to her brain in 2016 (Credit: BBC) Breast cancer return and death In January 2016, Peggy revealed to Phil that her breast cancer had returned, and that she was dying. Although she took chemotherapy for the cancer, it didn’t work, and a later hospital appointment revealed that the cancer had spread to her brain. Dismayed to learn that she’d refused any more treatment, Phil tried to convince his mother to fight. However, Peggy refused – and asked Phil to help her die. Grant then returned to Walford, and persuaded Phil not to help Peggy end her life. After agreeing to her sons’ pleas, Peggy began to hallucinate visions of her old frenemy Pat. As she and Pat caught up on old times, Peggy reiterated her wish to die by suicide. Phil was distraught to return home, where he discovered that Peggy had overdosed on pills. Her subsequent funeral took place on July 4, 2016. Read more: Who’s leaving, joining and returning to EastEnders? Complete list of cast exits, arrivals and returns. Share Good to Know Share By Joel Harley Dec 9 2025 By Joel Harley Dec 9 2025 Previous Story Next Story
