Jeff Hordley was terrified he was going to die when he was diagnosed with a digestive complaint.
My Park magazine reports the actor - who recently reprised his role as Cain Dingle in ITV soap 'Emmerdale' - was in "shock" when he was told he had Crohn's disease, which causes inflammation of the intestines and can affect other parts of the digestive system.
He said: "When I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, I went into shock. My mum had died from complications arising from the condition and I assumed the same thing would happen to me."
Speaking about his illness to the Yorkshire Post Hordley revealed: "My doctors were excellent and explained that I would do well after a major operation to remove parts of my bowel.
"I thought when I had the operation that I had seen the end of Crohn's Disease, but unfortunately it's not like that, I realised that it was with me for life and I would just have to live with it."
He now tries to stay fit and watches what he eats as well as using complementary therapies to relieve the symptoms. He is now trying to raise awareness of the condition.
Despite his success, Jeff - who is married to former 'Coronation Street' star Zoe Henry - insists he wouldn't want his children, daughter Violet, four, and 14-month-old Stan, to follow in his footsteps.
He added: "I'd rather my kids get sensible jobs which have actual prospects instead of long bouts of unemployment, like acting does. Perhaps a doctor or lawyer, so they could look after mum and dad."
