London, May 8 (IANS): Actress Denise Van Outen thought she had breast cancer when she found a lump in her breast last year but it turned out to be benign.

The 41-year-old, who tragically lost her grandmother to the disease, was left fearing for her life when she and her childhood friend both discovered that they had lumps while doing a self-examination on a calming spa trip, reports mirror.co.uk.

“That was a shock. We were on a spa break together just over a year ago when we both mentioned we'd found lumps,” Van Outen said.

“I am very breast aware because I lost my grandmother to breast cancer, so I said, 'Get to a doctor, quickly'. We made a pact to both get checked. Within two days my friend was told she had cancer,” she added.

Unlike her friend, Van Outen was told her lump was benign -- a non cancerous growth -- but she still urged doctors to remove the tumour as she was terrified it would turn into something more sinister and she wouldn't be around to watch her six-year-old daughter Betsy grow up.

“Even being in the doctor's surgery getting checked is pretty frightening. I had a biopsy and doctors said it was benign. And I said, 'Just take it out'. I want to be around to see Betsy grow up. I want to do all the things I can as a parent - even become a grandparent,” she said.