Emmerdale airs emotional Cain Dingle scenes as he bravely reveals cancer diagnosis in ITVX release
Warning: Contains spoilers for Wednesday's episode of Emmerdale, which airs at 8pm on ITV1 or can be streamed now on ITVX.
This article contains discussion of subjects including cancer that some readers may find upsetting.
In a format-breaking episode of Emmerdale, Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) bravely opened up about his prostate cancer diagnosis.
The news couldn't have come at a worse time for the head of the rowdy Dales clan - wife Moira (Natalie J Robb) has been wrongly imprisoned for the murder of Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths) and Anya Berisha (Alia Al-Shabibi).
As brother Sam (James Hooton) and sister-in-law Lydia (Karen Blick) took their kids to school, Moira rang to wish him luck on the day of his consultation. A clever narrative device allowed viewers to hear Cain's internal dialogue, as he anxiously awaited the day ahead.
At the hospital, a fellow patient wasn't exactly successful in easing his nerves. The man spoke about how this wasn't the first time he'd received treatment, with his initial prostate cancer diagnosis spreading.
During the appointment, however, the doctor delivered the bad news, explained that he had a localised, aggressive form of cancer that needed addressing urgently.
As he zoned out, she explained that a surgical procedure known as a radical prostatectomy would be required, that could leave him incontinent and with erectile dysfunction.
The doctor questioned where Moira was, and wondered whether he'd like to return to the hospital at a later date so they could discuss the matter again. Overwhelmed, Cain rushed out and returned to the village.
A number of residents bumped into him - including Ross Barton (Michael Parr) and granddaughter Sarah Sugden (Katie Hill), with the latter clocking that her 'Grumpy' was behaving out of character. He lashed out in frustration, before heading off to The Woolpack for a pint.
There he thought about his regrets about not getting a PSA test, that would've identified the condition earlier.
Unfortunately, his alone time was disturbed once again when Sam approached him, and then Dr Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson) followed him to the toilets. They assumed that Cain's low mood was because of Moira's incarceration, and he ordered them to leave him alone.
Retreating to dad Zak's graveside, he was soon joined by Sarah - possibly the only member of his family who could truly understand what he's going through. Sarah lives with Fanconi anemia, a rare genetic disease that leads to bone marrow failure, leukaemia, and a shortened life expectancy.
For a moment it seemed like he wasn't going to open up, but eventually told everything. She promised him that she'd be by his side, and that he didn't have to face it alone.
But when will he divulge his diagnosis to Moira?
For information and support, please visit Prostate Cancer UK or Orchid.
Read more:
- 4 Emmerdale spoilers next week: Bear Wolf secret exposed as Joe Tate deals an ultimatum
- Emmerdale star reveals major prostate cancer storyline for Cain Dingle – and "artistic" special episode
- Emmerdale finally confirms who killed Ray Walters following epic flashback week in ITVX release
- Emmerdale flashbacks reveal how Graham Foster was able to return from the dead in ITVX release
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1. Stream on ITVX.
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Authors
Michael Adams is the Soaps Editor at Radio Times, covering all of the hot gossip and spoilers from Weatherfield to Walford, Emmerdale to Hollyoaks and everywhere in-between. He joined the team from Metro, where he spent two years as a Soaps Reporter and previously worked on the sets of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
