Soaps continue public health awareness through stories as Eastenders' Alfie tackles prostate cancer

The likes of Nick Owen and Simon Jordan have both recently revealed that they have been dealing with a prostate cancer diagnosis which has prompted them to encourage men to get themselves tested. It has also been revealed that Shane Richie who plays Alfie Moon in "Eastenders" is set to take on a prostate cancer storyline. 

The BBC has reported that “Macmillan Cancer Support said they hope the development will ‘help open up vital conversations’ about the illness. The article goes on to say that “One in eight men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime, according to Prostate Cancer UK.”

This is of course not the first time an "Eastenders" character has raised awareness of an important health condition. Mark Fowler, played by Todd Carty, brought more awareness to the public regarding people living normal, everyday lives with HIV, while Danielle Harold, who played Lola Pearce in the BBC soap, saw her character die after battling a brain tumour. 

When Danielle Harold won Best Leading Performer at the British Soap Awards for her work on the storyline, she donated her award to those suffering from brain tumours and said: “This isn’t for me, this is definitely for every single person that’s worked with me along the way, that’s been directly affected by brain tumours. People who are suffering from brain tumours, their time is so precious to them and even more to me.”

Brain Tumour Research’s Head of PR and Communications Sue Castle Smith- revealed on their website that “As the leading voice of the brain tumour community, we were pleased to help share this important story. It has been a tremendous opportunity to raise awareness of this devastating condition. Lola’s story is sadly a reality for too many people. Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer. We are determined to change this.”

Coronation Street actor Peter Ash’s character Paul Foreman is currently dealing with a deterioration of his motor neurone disease diagnosis in the ITV soap. The Motor Neurone Disease Association, known as The MND Association revealed on their website that they had “been supporting the team at ITV’s Coronation Street with the portrayal of a character diagnosed with motor neurone disease.” 

If you are suffering from symptoms similar to the character of Paul Foreman, there is a section about it on the MND website.