Coronation Street reveals Kit’s stage 3 breast cancer

ITV has confirmed a major new Coronation Street storyline for Kit Green, with the character set to receive a stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis after secretly seeking medical help over concerns about his health.

The storyline will follow Kit from his diagnosis through denial and treatment, while exploring the effect the news has on his relationships, his family and his own sense of identity.

The development follows the revelation that Bernie and Gemma’s family may carry a familial BRCA gene mutation, leading them to face genetic testing. Unknown to his family, Kit has already been seeking medical help himself, although breast cancer is initially nowhere on his radar.

Kit is left floored when he discovers that he has stage 3 breast cancer, presenting a serious threat to his health. ITV says almost 500 men in the UK face breast cancer every year, while male breast cancer accounts for less than one per cent of all breast cancer cases.

Coronation Street has worked closely with Macmillan Cancer Support and Breast Cancer Now to develop the storyline and accurately portray Kit’s diagnosis and treatment.

Jacob Roberts, who plays Kit, admitted that he did not previously know that men could develop breast cancer.

“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.”

He explained that working with charities and speaking to men who have experienced the disease has helped him understand what Kit will be facing.

“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.”

Coronation Street producer Kate Brooks said the diagnosis will expose a much more vulnerable side of Kit as he attempts to process what has happened.

“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.”

Kate said the storyline will also examine the effect that the diagnosis has on Kit’s identity as he enters a completely unfamiliar world.

“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.”

The producer also stressed the importance of increasing awareness that breast cancer can affect men and encouraging people to seek medical advice when they notice changes.

“Whilst male breast cancer is rare, it’s important that we show it can happen to anyone. We must normalize conversations around this to encourage people to consult their GP at the earliest opportunity if any changes arise.”

Macmillan Cancer Support has helped shape the scripts surrounding Kit’s diagnosis, while Breast Cancer Now has provided specialist guidance on breast cancer, family history and the realities of treatment.

ITV says upcoming scenes will follow Kit through diagnosis, denial and treatment as he struggles with the life-changing news and what it means for him as a man. His family will also be forced to confront the wider implications of the BRCA gene revelation and the possibility that others could be affected.

For more Coronation Street news, spoilers and features, visit the Coronation Street Hub on SoapLandTV.co.uk. Images: ITV