Emmerdale actress Lisa Riley has spoken about cancer being like an 'aura' around her as she fronts a new lung cancer awareness campaign. The Bury-born star, known for playing Mandy Dingle, is supporting the 'Don’t Delay – Every Breath Matters' initiative after losing her grandmother and co-star Leah Bracknell to the disease.
New research commissioned by specialist cancer care provider GenesisCare reveals widespread misconceptions about lung cancer, which remains the UK's biggest cancer killer with nearly 40,000 people diagnosed in England each year. Almost one in 10 people diagnosed have never smoked, and lung cancer is also the biggest cancer killer of women in the UK.
Campaign highlights misconceptions and delays
The research shows that 70% of people are unaware of all the signs and symptoms of lung cancer, while nearly half (49%) don’t know that those who have never smoked can still develop the disease. Among people who have experienced symptoms that could indicate lung cancer, 57% admit they have delayed seeking medical advice.
Lisa told the Manchester Evening News in an exclusive interview: "I didn't realise just the enormity of how high the death rate was. I've worked with breast cancer before and I, hand on my heart, always believed it was breast cancer and it's not; lung cancer is the biggest killer and especially in women."
Speaking about her support for the campaign, she said: "You know what I'm like, I like to look after us girlies. That's really important to me, and just spread real awareness and knowledge that the sooner you get the diagnosis, the quicker you can start the treatment, and therefore you can literally hold on to quality time with your loved ones."
Personal loss and a promise to her mother
For Lisa, the campaign is deeply personal. In 2002, her grandmother Pat initially dismissed her cough as ‘just a smoker’s cough’ and delayed seeking help until it was too late. "You can't just take a cough for granted, and you can't also think, 'Oh, do you know what? I am a non-smoker, therefore I'm okay' because one in 10 are actually dying," Lisa commented.
Lisa, whose mother Cath Riley died from breast cancer in July 2012 at the age of 57, said: "I promised my mum before she passed away that I would never be that girl that threw a duvet over her head. I don't have the luxury to feel sorry for myself. I am still ambitious. I still do a job I love. I still make people laugh every day, you know what I mean? What a luxury is that!"
She also lost co-star Leah Bracknell to the disease in 2019, aged just 55 – she was diagnosed with lung cancer despite having never smoked. Leah experienced breathlessness which became so severe that she found it difficult to use the stairs, and her diagnosis came after she was rushed to hospital with a heart problem.
New rapid response pathway
Lisa is supporting the campaign alongside the launch of a new Lung Cancer Rapid Response Pathway, which will be available at a new specialist cancer centre launching in Leeds in January. The service aims to transform the speed of access and care coordination, helping patients reach a diagnosis and treatment plan as quickly as possible.
"I've spoken openly for so many years about how, you know, when going through palliative care, anything like that, it's so important that you have that time," she said. "And listen, the way technology's going now, the survival rates are getting better. But what GenesisCare are doing is they want to get people in as fast as possible, and they're going to be able to do that with the equipment they'll have in the clinic itself. So it's amazing."
Anyone experiencing symptoms such as a persistent cough, unexplained breathlessness, chest pain, coughing up blood, unexplained weight loss or ongoing fatigue should seek medical advice promptly.
