Lynda Bellingham won't reveal what type of cancer she has.
The former 'Loose Women' star announced she has been diagnosed with the disease on Tuesday (16.07.13) over Twitter, but she is refusing to share any other aspect of her struggle with the public because she wants to maintain her privacy.
She told the Daily Mail newspaper: "It's my body and nobody else's business. In months to come, I may change my mind. But, for now, I'm pulling up the drawbridge and speaking to no-one outside my immediate family.
"It's early days. It's been a lot to absorb and I'd like to hang on to something so private, something that remains mine and mine alone. I'm of the era of people who believe not every detail of your life has to be in the media. Nowadays, people share absolutely everything.
"I have quite a loyal following on Twitter so, for them, I did tweet one short message about my diagnosis. I did what I thought was appropriate for someone of my age."
The 65-year-old actress - best known for her roles in the stage version of 'Calendar Girls' and the long-running OXO adverts - did however admit she had started her first round of chemotherapy, which is due to finish by Christmas.
Lynda said: "It was explained to me that mine [chemo] wouldn't result in my hair falling out, which was very welcome news, as you can imagine.
"I'm eating healthily - although I was doing that anyway - and I'm going for a one-mile walk every day.
"This isn't how I thought the year would pan out but I see this as a temporary blip."
Lynda - whose sister Barbara passed away from cancer in 2008 at the age of just 54 - said the most annoying part of her diagnosis was having to pull out a touring production of Kay Mellor's play 'A Passionate Woman'.
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