Breast Cancer storyline to hit Coronation Street imminent, probably all over Christmas time…
Kevin’s wife Sally is about to learn she has breast cancer, and will need the support of her husband, while Molly will discover she is pregnant, but doesn’t know if Tyrone or Kevin is the father of the baby.
I cant believe that ITV are using BC to justify a sordid storyline… its cruel for people like ourselves and our families especially our children!!! I have emailed ITV and its the same old story… Raising Awareness!! I’m appauled and disgusted that they can even think to use BC on a 'soap; viewed by millions including ‘us’… this is what ITV said to me:
Thank you for your e-mail regarding Coronation Street .
There were two major considerations behind our decision to introduce this topic. Firstly, the fact that breast cancer is an emotive subject and we hope this story will help raise awareness. Secondly, that the overwhelming majority of viewers, including children old enough to appreciate peak time drama, will accept this storyline provided we treat the subject with sensitivity and feeling. Within these parameters we take the view that this subject is one that Coronation Street can legitimately tackle. We take our responsibility to the viewing public very seriously and are aware of the contentious nature of this particular storyline; we have gone to great lengths to get this subject factually correct, working closely with cancer specialists and charities so we feel confident that our thorough research, combined with the sensitivity of the writing and the quality of the acting will do this subject justice.
Once again thank you for your e-mail and for taking the time to contact us over an issue that you must find difficult to write about and I have ensured that your comments and concerns have reached both our Producer and Series Editor.
Yours with Best Wishes,
IF YOU FEEL AS STRONGLY ABOUT THIS AS I DO… THEN HELP TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!! EMAIL ITV <script type=“text/javascript”>eval(unescape(‘%64%6f%63%75%6d%65%6e%74%2e%77%72%69%74%65%28%27%3c%61%20%68%72%65%66%3d%22%6d%61%69%6c%74%6f%3a%44%61%76%69%64%2e%4e%75%67%65%6e%74%40%49%54%56%2e%43%4f%4d%22%3e%44%61%76%69%64%2e%4e%75%67%65%6e%74%40%49%54%56%2e%43%4f%4d%3c%2f%61%3e%27%29%3b’))</script>
ALL SUPPORT WITH THIS WOULD BE WELCOMED… WE HAVE ENOUGH TO GO THROUGH WITHOUT THIS!!!
I have to disagree with you on this - bc happens -other cancers and illnesses happen and they are ‘featured’ in dramas - it’s part of life and soaps/dramas reflect life,however unrealistically sometimes.
Eastenders has featured bc in the past,more recently with Shirley’s breast cancer scare. I really don’t think that by dramatising the story of someone with bc that it will trivialise this disease and given the huge popularity of Coronation Street it possibly will raise awareness - certainly it will give the viewing public an insight into what it’s like to be diagnosed and to face the uncertainty of results and treatment and the effects on family and friends. The writing in Coronation Street is top class generally so I have confidence that it’ll be well written.
Sorry Molly,but I think it’s a case of wait and see.
I’m a big Corrie fan & think the writing is very good on the whole,I’m interested to see how they’ll handle the story line,and believe me if they make the slightess mistake we’ll be the first to let them know.
One thing I don’t imagine will happen is a portrayal of chemo.I just hope it’s not too sugar coated.
So,as I said,let’s just bide our time,you never know they just might do it right.
Hi Marie, Sorry I have to agree with the other two girls,the only way ITV could minimalise our illness is by having it over and done with in a couple of weeks(yeh right)and I have e-mailed your Mr.Nugent to say this. The danger there would be for people we know
(not our nearest & dearest obviously)to wonder why us girls arent getting over it as quick as Sal,I know I couldnt be working at Underworld yet and its 6 months since my op. P.S. how are you,not heard from you,take care love Mags xx
Hi guys, I understand what you are saying… but I personally will find it hard view!! I have a daughter and son of 12 and 16 who it impacted on seriously which resulted in them having support in school. My family have been so traumatised and I know my children regularly view Corrie, I hope that they have done their research because until you experience BC no one can imagine what you go through!! I don’t mind any TV soap raising awareness but in a different context… not to justify someone having an affair therefore, feeling obligated to stand by their wife??? I believe everyone has their own opinion on this but personally I and my family could well do without this three nights a week on prime time TV. The chemo aspect of this again is another ‘big issue’ I just hope that showing this may halp some people… as I know that when it goes off it will say… if you or someone in your family has been afected by this storyline then contact this number for support!! Well it wont help me I’m afraid and I am still of a high opinion its being screened in bad context!
hi all i just hope if sally needs chemo which im sure she wont they show the hair loss and all the se of chemo again prob wont as like most of us i suffered badly and lost my hair sally will prob be the lucky one to have a very small lump and not need chemo or rads gd luck all
Hi Mags,
Sorry don’t tend to come on here much at the moment… it scares me too much, so I tend not to read lots of posts… I am part way through FEC chemo at the moment so have been a little down (to say the least!) Its certainly not easy… its just taken my emotions right back to the beginning again, when I was first diagnosed, so am finding things a little dificult at the moment! Did you go and meet the other lady? I hope that you are keeping well and that eveything is going ok for you. Please private message me if you wish to XxX Take care M X
Hi all, I hope corrie handle this as carefully as they did mikes dementia story. I agree Sally probably wont need chemo! But being a big corrie fan they have over the years dealt with many issues. Because we are all involved with this one it hits home more! But anything to make women know it can happen to them!!
I actually feel the constant adverts that are on every night hit me more as i will be watching corrie to make sure they do it all right and ready to e-mail if they don’t!!
love debs xxxx
Thanks Laura I fully agree!! I am part way through chemo and have sufferred emotionally like you wouldn’t believe… my hair loss hit me badly and I’ve gone into a terible depression… I’ve lost all self esteem and confidence…but do these producers care??? thanks for the support on this… any ‘YES’ youre probably right… about Sal and chemo etc… X
Molly please dont worry about a soap story when you are going through so much at the moment. Take time for yourself and recovery in mind and body - the soaps will still do what they want and its best not to waste energy and emotions when you have such a fight on your hands.
Sorry you are having a hard time Molly and I have just emailed ITV re this storyline saying I don’t have a problem with the story line as long as it is handled REALISTICALLY. Great that they have taken time to talk to cancer specialists and charties but if they want to get the true idea of the rollercoaster of a cancer journey and the fall out caused by it they would do well to take a look into forums like this and actually talk to real people with real cancer as nobody understands it better than we do. If they don’t get it right they are going to have a lot of very angry women on their case. So for all our sakes here’s hoping that they pitch this correctly.
I have to agree with the others that I think it’s good that Corrie is running this storyline. I am hoping that others will realise the effect it has on us and what we go through and make them think about it.
I read in the newspaper weeks ago when the storyline broke that Kevin has threatened he will leave the show if he is not allowed to support Sally against this disease Good for you Kevin !!
I think that Sally will have chemo -I’m sure I read it somewhere a while ago - it may be abbreviated as pregnancies in soapland tend to be mighty short !
I think too that if you search under Sally Whittacker in relation to this there’s an article where she talks about the storyline - I am sure that the scriptwriters and editors will have taken great pains to ensure that the portrayal is accurate -so really wait and see.
this wasn’t the piece I meant (couldn’t find it I’m afraid) but is from digital spy and it might reassure :
Kevin’s world comes crashing down around him, though, when Sally - played by 46-year-old Sally Whittaker - breaks the tragic news that she has found a lump on her breast and has been diagnosed with the disease.
Unbeknown to her family, Sally has kept her shock discovery a secret until the doctors informed her of the biopsy results. On hearing the life-changing news, a guilt-ridden Kevin is forced to choose between supporting his wife and family through the turbulent time ahead or continue seeing Molly.
Speaking of the plot, Whittaker said: “I do know women who have suffered or are suffering from breast cancer. For the last year, I have been fundraising for breast cancer charities and am a long-standing patron for The Genesis Appeal. So, when I was told about this storyline I was determined to do it justice for all the women out there who are going through what Sally is.”
She continued: “A few years ago, I found a lump and was sent to get it checked out straight away. I was lucky that it proved to be nothing but the time spent waiting to find out the results was agonising.”
A Coronation Street spokesperson added: “Breast cancer is a disease which affects so many women and their families. We are keen to ensure that the storyline accurately reflects the many problems and issues faced by breast cancer sufferers.”
Sally will receive the devastating news in December.
Producers uncharacteristically took the decision to release story information earlier than usual to enable the show to work openly and closely with its panel of experts.
Well very considerate of the producers to run it just at Christmas time… some poor women will be wondering if they will see another Christmas??? its awful timing!! with an awful storyline to accompany it!
But surely if the story is handled sensitively and is well researched and well written it could do a lot of good,showing just how devastating bc can be to families -and what it’s like to go through treatment. A lot is said on this forum about people- friends and family- not understanding what breast cancer is all about and maybe this might educate a few more people about the reality- that it’s not something that you have,get treatment and is sorted- that it does have long term repercussions. I am so sorry that you’re having a tough time - am just trying to put it in perspective. The storyline in EastEnders about Stacey’s bi-polar disorder was handled so well,in my opinion,and certainly taught me a lot about the condition that I didn’t know about.
I went to the one stop clinic and my husband was there with me all the way through… when I was told … I just cried and cried the whole clinic down… I will never forget, I so thought it was going to be a benign fibriodenoma! and to learn that I also had one in the other was a dreadful shock too… I couldnt have got through it without my husband!! And I think whats worse for me is the fact that I have no boobs… no hair and feel so down, I worry about my husband not loving me any more because of this and worry that he would want a perfect lady… my insecurity I know, thats why this damn storyline about affairs and stuff just makes me cringe. XX