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Coronation Street and EastEnders have both tackled cancer storylines lately. One about pancreatic cancer and one about breast cancer. For some viewers, the stories are just too close to home. If you felt emotionally drained by the episodes, you’re not alone. Some chose not to watch them at all because it was too difficult. Others have praised the soaps’ portrayals of the impact cancer can have on someone’s life.
Of course, everyone’s individual experience of cancer is different. But these soap stories have certainly struck a chord with many viewers, even those who don’t have direct experience of these types of cancer. So, this blog is here to offer information and support to anyone who might want it.
Visit our website for more information about pancreatic cancer. There’s information on causes, symptoms, treatments and living with cancer. We also have a booklet about pancreatic cancer, which you can order for free.
If you’ve been particularly affected by Hayley’s story in Corrie, the information on this page may help.
There’s more information on our breast cancer web pages, which cover causes, symptoms, treatments and living with cancer. Or, there’s a range of booklets and leaflets about breast cancer.
If you’re worried about your genetic risk of breast cancer, we have information about cancer genetics and breast cancer.
If it’s all getting too much, sometimes just talking everything through can help you feel more on top of things. Organising your thoughts, sharing a problem; however you think of it, talking can really help. You might also identify what your main needs are and what you can do about them. By calling us on 0808 808 00 00, you can talk to a cancer support specialist or a nurse. You can also email us.
Finding out more can put you back in control and help you find out the things that will help. Whether you want to know more about a certain type of cancer, are concerned about treatments or side effects, or are worrying about how cancer will affect your life, we have lots of information to help you.
Our cancer information web pages may be a good place to start. Or you can order free booklets and audiobooks from us. If you want to talk things through with a trained expert in cancer support, visit one of our local support centres or mobile support centres for a confidential chat.
The Macmillan Online Community is a place where you can laugh, cry, rant, or open your heart. You can meet people who are going through similar experiences and share your feelings. You’ll see people finding ways to get through the tough times together. There are lots of groups on our Online Community, including a pancreatic cancer group, a breast cancer group, a carers only group, a group for being a relative, a bereaved friends and families group, and a bereaved spouses and partners group.
Macmillan has no control over how the soaps’ storylines turn out, but we do give advice and information to the scriptwriters. While soap operas can raise public awareness of cancer and other illnesses, it’s important that the storylines are handled carefully and accurately reflect the experience of someone with the illness.
EastEnders producers have worked with breast cancer experts and charities, including Macmillan Cancer Support, to ensure a realistic and sensitive portrayal of the issue. And Coronation Street scriptwriters consulted with various charities including Macmillan, Pancreatic Cancer UK and Help the Hospices UK.
Do you like this blog? What else would you like to see on this blog? We’d love to hear your thoughts, so please feel free to leave a comment below (you need to be logged in – if you still can't see the comment box, click on this blog's title at the top).
Keep in touch Follow Macmillan’s cancer information team on Twitter @mac_cancerinfo
* Cancer Research UK. Pancreatic cancer key facts. http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/cancerstats/keyfacts/pancreatic-cancer/ (accessed 30 January 2014)
** Cancer Research UK. Breast cancer key facts. http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/cancerstats/keyfacts/breast-cancer/cancerstats-key-facts-on-breast-cancer (accessed 30 January 2014)
