The Dingles' difficult year is about to be capped off with a sad goodbye in Emmerdale. Cancer has ravaged the family, with Faith having succumbed to the disease in recent years, Chas Dingle surviving breast cancer with a double mastectomy, and Cain Dingle learning he has prostate cancer that has spread.
Cain's struggle with treatment
Cain's own experience has been a particularly difficult one, with surgery promising permanent side effects, including destroying his sex life. Cain has wrestled with the idea of giving up on treatment, and up until recently he was clear that he wanted to just ride his cancer out. But then Monty the dog was diagnosed with the Big C and it changed everything.
The Dingles discovered Monty's cancer after Cain's kid Kyle set fire to a shed that Monty happened to be trapped in. He survived the fire, but the check over at the vets revealed the poor pooch was riddled with the disease.
A turning point for Cain
This was a crushing blow for the family, but if good is to come of it, Cain came to realise that his unwavering desire to help Monty survive must be how his family feels towards him. It was a turning point for Cain, as he realised he needed to rethink his attitude to his own treatment.
Cain is still mortally afraid of his cancer, especially the idea of leaving his family without a dad. Suddenly aware of his own mortality, Cain asks if Kyle would like Moira to adopt him, but before a blindsided Kyle can give an answer, Sam appears and interrupts the moment with some terrible news – something is very wrong with Monty.
Monty's final moments
Rhona examines him and tells the family what they all dread to hear, that the tumour may well have spread. Cain is adamant that Monty must be saved, particularly as he sees his and Monty's fate as one and the same, but when he finds the beloved dog sleeping on Zak's grave, he realises it's time to let go. He breaks the news to Kyle and Isaac, then takes Monty off for his final visit to the vets.
Monty is sent off to doggy heaven as Cain and his sons share a moment. Isaac has an idea – Monty must have a proper Dingle send off and they agree to have a funeral for him.
