Coronation Street actress Kate Ford has been privately battling endometriosis. The 40-year-old opened up about her battle in a candid post on Twitter this week, telling fans that life with the painful condition "is not easy".
Kate decided to go public with her news after US singer Halsey underwent surgery for the disorder. Sharing a link to an article about the star's recent operation, Kate commented: "I suffer from this, it's not easy."
Kate Ford revealed her endometriosis battle in a post about US singer Halsey
It's thought to be the first time that Kate has spoken about her diagnosis with endometriosis, which causes cells around the body to behave like the lining of the womb. It causes severe pain, fatigue, and even infertility, and affects around two million women.
The British star made her revelation after 22-year-old Halsey posted a photo from her hospital bed, having undergone multiple surgeries to treat her endometriosis.
Halsey, 22, recently underwent multiple surgeries to treat the condition
The US singer explained her situation in a candid message to Instagram fans, writing: "Today I braved multiple terrifying surgeries. The most important of which being the surgery that would hopefully treat my endometriosis.
"For those of you who have followed this battle of mine or who may suffer with it yourself, you know the extremes to which it can be mentally exhausting and physically painful. OK HONESTLY I'm in total agony right now…"
Kate is a mum to eight-year-old son Otis with her ex-husband, TV producer Jon Connerty. The couple were married in October 2007, but announced their separation in September 2013.
Kate is a mum to Otis with ex-husband Jon Connerty
She said at the time: "We tried really hard to make it work. But it came to the point when we knew we had to get a divorce. Things had changed and it wasn't what it was. But it was incredibly painful. For a while after we split, I found it hard to get out of bed. I wasn't at work at the time, and I'd drop Otis off at school and go back to bed until I picked him up."