Coronation Street star Vicky Myers, who plays DS Lisa Swain on the long-running ITV soap, has spoken candidly about the profound personal heartbreak she endured away from the Weatherfield cobbles, including a 'bitter' divorce and a life-altering cancer diagnosis.
From Cobbles to Cancer: A Life-Altering Diagnosis
While her character investigates crimes on screen, Vicky Myers faced a terrifying real-life ordeal in 2010. Her world was turned upside down when she became a single mother. Just months later, a routine medical appointment for her nephew took a shocking turn. Doctors noticed a suspicious mark on Vicky, which led to a skin cancer diagnosis.
She underwent reconstructive surgery to recover, during which her ex-partner stepped in to care for their daughter, Meghan. Reflecting on this period in a 2024 interview with the Mirror, Vicky revealed the diagnosis forced a major shift in her outlook.
Finding Perspective After Pain
Vicky connected her medical struggle directly to the emotional turmoil of her marriage breakdown. She admitted feeling 'down, bitter and vengeful' following the split with her husband. The cancer scare, however, became a catalyst for profound change.
'I remember thinking, 'If this is it for me, I've missed out on all this time with my daughter, and I haven't really been the best person that I wanted to be,'' she told the publication. 'The diagnosis re-centred me and made me focus on what is really important and what makes me happy.'
Now, she embraces every day, stating she feels overwhelmed with gratitude each time she sees the Coronation Street sign at work.
On-Screen Drama Mirrors Personal Resilience
On the show, Vicky's character Lisa Swain, who first appeared in 2021 to assist in the Amy Barlow rape case, has also navigated significant turmoil. A detective with a complex personal life, Lisa shares a daughter, Betsy, with ex-wife Becky and has found love with Carla Connor, though their relationship has faced constant interference.
Fans recently saw Becky arrested following the catastrophic Corriedale episode, but Lisa and Carla remain estranged, leaving viewers heartbroken. In a recent episode aired on January 8, 2026, Lisa confided in Kit Green about her fractured relationship with Carla.
Vicky Myers' journey, both on and off-screen, stands as a testament to her resilience. Having faced down personal demons and health battles, she now approaches her life and her role on one of Britain's most beloved soaps with a hard-won sense of perspective and joy.
