EastEnders’ Denise faces the end after an utterly devastating cancer development

| Soaps Reporter Published September 28, 2026 11:22am Updated September 28, 2026 11:22am Denise Fox received devastating news about her cancer (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron) This article contains spoilers for tonight’s (Monday, September 28) EastEnders, which has not yet aired on TV but is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer. EastEnders’ Denise Fox (Diane Parish) has been living in hope that her newly discovered half-brother Darnell Larson (Christopher Colquhoun) could be her saving grace as she awaits a stem-cell transplant, but her hopes were crushed in tonight’s instalment of the BBC soap. Denise was diagnosed with a form of blood cancer called acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) earlier this year. Despite undergoing treatment, her condition has worsened, and she was placed in a medically induced coma last month. It was during this time that Kim Fox (Tameka Empson) tracked Darnell down, and he later agreed to be tested to see if he was a match for Denise’s stem-cells. Devastatingly, tonight’s episode saw him break the news to Denise that he wasn’t a close enough match and therefore wouldn’t be able to donate his stem-cells to her. Darnell Larson revealed that he wasn’t a match (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron) When he asked what she planned to do next, Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) answered for her, declaring that she’d continue with the next round of chemotherapy and stay positive. Denise tried to put on a brave face as she assured Darnell that it wasn’t his fault, and the doctors had warned her that he might not be a match as they were only half-siblings. However, after excusing herself from the room, heartbroken Denise broke down in the hallway as the reality of her situation sunk in. Jack Branning wants Denise to stay positive (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron) She had pointed out to Jack and Darnell that she had heard that finding donors for black people can be difficult, but that she had allowed herself to hope that Darnell would be a match, which made the news that he wasn’t even more upsetting. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. Despite Jack’s encouragement that she should stay positive, it became clear that Denise was having second thoughts about continuing with the chemo, as she researched what happens to someone’s body when they stop treatment for cancer. Deals of the Day I tried L'Oréal Paris's new PDRN serum and my skin looked glossier after one use This new Cricut gadget turns your favourite photos into stickers in minutes From kitchen hatches to burgundy walls – the biggest home trends for 2027 Oodie’s cosy blanket sale has arrived just in time for Christmas shopping Save over £700 on Simba's top-rated mattresses in this limited-time sale Will Denise decide to stop her treatment altogether and, if so, how will her family react? Arrow MORE: Darnell delivers crushing news in EastEnders that is shattering for Denise Arrow MORE: Heartbreak rocks EastEnders as ailing Denise collapses Arrow MORE: Major EastEnders exit reversed and Denise’s fate as spoilers reveal what happens next The Soaps Newsletter – Daily All the latest soaps spoilers and gossip, in your inbox every morning.