Coronation Street has confirmed that fan-favourite character Kit Green (Jacob Roberts) will face a shocking stage three breast cancer diagnosis, in a storyline exploring the reality of male breast cancer. The news comes after a busy year for Kit, following the arrest and imprisonment of his ex-girlfriend Sarah Platt (Tina O'Brien) for the murder of Theo Silverton (James Cartwright).
Family secret and BRCA gene
Kit's cancer discovery follows his family becoming aware that they may carry the familial BRCA gene, after the passing of his estranged Aunt Celeste, who leaves behind the devastating family secret. While mum Bernie (Jane Hazelgrove) and half sister Gemma (Dolly Rose Campbell) face testing, unbeknown to them and viewers, Kit has already been seeking medical help over concerns about his health.
With breast cancer not initially on his radar, Kit is floored to hear he has stage three breast cancer, posing a very serious threat to his life - something almost 500 men in the UK face every year. Male breast cancer is rare, accounting for less than 1% of all breast cancer cases, but many men do not realise they can get it, leading to embarrassment, delayed diagnoses, and higher mortality rates.
Authentic portrayal with charity support
The Coronation Street production team are working closely with Macmillan Cancer Support and Breast Cancer Now to accurately portray Kit's cancer while raising awareness of the risks among men. In scenes to be aired in September, viewers will follow Kit's journey from diagnosis, to denial, to treatment and family relationships as he struggles to deal with the life-changing news.
Speaking about the storyline, Jacob Roberts said: "I genuinely didn't know that men could get breast cancer and I felt, to make it authentic, that Kit shouldn't know that men can get breast cancer either. Speaking to the charities and male survivors has been really insightful, lots of men don't know they can get this and for Kit it's that utter disbelief of how can this be? Not only for his age, but how can I have this as a bloke and who else in the family could be affected."
Impact on family and awareness
Carrying a familial BRCA gene mutation means inheriting a harmful change in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes from a parent, which significantly raises lifetime risk of developing certain cancers. As both Kit and Bernie's family explore this, the soap will show the overwhelming impact the news can have on those affected and the different coping mechanisms people adopt.
Coronation Street producer Kate Brooks said: "This diagnosis absolutely shakes the foundations of Kit's life as he struggles to digest what this means not only for him, but also for his family and loved ones. Kit's a complex character, and he struggles as he navigates this new world he's been thrust into. His vulnerabilities become all too apparent as he wrestles with what this means to his sense of identity. While male breast cancer is rare, it's important that we show it can happen to anyone. We must normalise conversations around this to encourage people to consult their GP at the earliest opportunity if any changes arise."
Dany Bell, cancer care strategic adviser for Macmillan Cancer Support, helped shape the script and said: "The team at Coronation Street has worked tirelessly to represent breast cancer in men accurately and responsibly and Macmillan is proud to have partnered with ITV on this story." Sally Kum, associate director of nursing and health information at Breast Cancer Now, added: "Kit's story serves as a powerful reminder that breast cancer can happen to anyone. Male breast cancer is very rare, but raising awareness and normalising conversations around the disease is crucial, to encourage men to check their chest regularly and see their GP if they notice new or unusual changes. While most changes won't be cancer, the earlier it's diagnosed, the better the chances of treating it successfully." She added: "We've drawn on our insights and extensive expertise supporting people affected by breast cancer to help guide this storyline and ensure that it's portrayed authentically, particularly some of the complexities around family history and how Kit may navigate the impacts of his diagnosis and treatment. Information and support is out there for anyone affected by Kit's experiences – no-one should feel they have to face breast cancer alone."
