Bernie Winter (Jane Hazlegrove) is left devastated in Coronation Street after receiving a letter from the hospital confirming that she carries the BRCA gene associated with breast cancer.
The news comes after a difficult year for Bernie, who has been grieving the death of her late son's partner Billy Mayhew (Daniel Brocklebank), dealing with a stalker in Mal Roper, and facing cracks in her marriage to Dev Alahan (Jimi Harkashin).
Family BRCA Gene Discovery
The Winter household was recently rocked by the discovery that the family carries the BRCA gene, leaving Bernie concerned not only for herself but for her children Kit Green (Jacob Roberts), Gemma Winter (Dolly-Rose Campbell), and her grandson Brody Michaelis (Ryan Mulvey).
Kit was unlucky, and Bernie was devastated to learn that her son has stage three breast cancer. This is not the first time Bernie has faced losing a child, having previously lost her son Paul Foreman (Peter Ash) to Motor Neurone Disease.
Supporting Kit Through Treatment
Despite her fear of losing another son, Bernie is supporting Kit through his treatment as best she can. This includes tender hospital scenes where they reminisce about his childhood, as well as complimenting him on his freshly shaven head as he prepares for chemotherapy.
In upcoming scenes, Bernie receives the letter confirming she carries the BRCA gene. Covering her upset, she hurries upstairs, while Dev and Kit watch her with concern. It remains to be seen whether they will discover the truth or if Bernie will tell them herself.
Actress on Bernie's Dilemma
Actress Jane Hazlegrove, who plays Bernie, has previously told Metro that her character would consider a double mastectomy if there was no other choice. She said: 'She has some massive decisions to make. For a woman pushing 60, deciding to lose her breasts is huge, especially because she and Dev are such a physical couple.'
'But she has about a 70% chance of developing breast cancer, and she wants to be around for her grandkids and the quads. She's determined to stick around.'
'She's not sure what the psychological effects of the surgery will be, but she has to make a decision and she says "I'm still going to be me." It's going to be a long road, but she's not going anywhere.'
