Coronation Street actress Sally Dynevor has opened up about her personal experience with breast cancer while extending heartfelt support to her former co-star Beverley Callard, who recently disclosed her own diagnosis. Sally, who plays Sally Metcalfe on the long-running ITV soap, was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2009, a year that also saw her character receive a similar storyline on the show.
Reflecting on a Life-Changing Diagnosis
Appearing on Loose Women to mark her 40th anniversary on Coronation Street, Sally, 62, shared how her diagnosis profoundly altered her perspective. 'My character had breast cancer and I had to tell Carla (Alison King) that Sally had breast cancer,' she recounted. 'That was a very, very difficult scene because I knew I was leaving at that point.'
Sally elaborated on the emotional impact, stating she initially wanted to continue working but realized the seriousness when chemotherapy was recommended. 'The moment that I was told I needed chemo that's the moment that I realised that actually this is serious,' she said. Both Sally and her character ultimately made full recoveries, but the experience left a lasting impression.
Supporting a Fellow Actress
The panel discussion also touched on Beverley Callard, 68, who played Liz McDonald on Coronation Street and recently revealed her breast cancer diagnosis during an Irish chat show appearance. Sally expressed optimism for her former colleague, noting, 'Hopefully for Bev, she's caught this early so she will hopefully be back at work and carrying on doing what she's doing.'
She highlighted the challenges faced by working mothers, adding, 'It's very hard for women because if you're a working mum and the breadwinner, then you want to carry on. You need to be working.'
How a Storyline Saved a Life
In a poignant revelation, Sally disclosed that her character's breast cancer storyline prompted her to get checked in real life. 'I've still not come to terms that it happened and maybe if I hadn't had the storyline, maybe I wouldn't have checked because I was only 46,' she recalled.
She emphasized the importance of awareness, stating, 'I thought it was, you know, much older women but it's not. Thank goodness there's much more information out there now than there was 15 years ago when I got it. But now we're talking about it, which is very important.'
Sally also shared her gratitude upon returning to work after treatment, saying, 'I remember my first day back on the street after having eight months off or six months off and walking down the cobbles and going, "I am so grateful for this because once you have something taken away from you. You think that's it, and then to get it back is just, wow, I mean, you don't take it for granted."'
Beverley Callard's Positive Update
Meanwhile, Beverley Callard provided a fresh health update to fans, expressing that she is feeling 'positive and strong' following her diagnosis. She revealed the cancer was caught early but will require her to return to the UK for radiotherapy and surgery.
In a video message on Monday, Beverley, now back home in Norfolk with her husband Jon McEwan and their dogs, said, 'I really want to say thank you so much to everyone for your wonderful messages. Everybody has been truly fantastic. And I also want to say I'm feeling really positive and I'm very strong. I begin hospital stuff and everything now I'm home.'
She detailed upcoming medical tests, adding, 'Everything begins this week. On Wednesday, they're testing lymph nodes and lymph glands and all of that and I will keep everybody updated. I'm so appreciative of all the love that's coming, thank you.'
The Moment of Diagnosis
Beverley initially announced her diagnosis on The Late Late Show in Ireland, where she was promoting her new role on the soap opera Fair City. She received the news just 20 minutes before filming her first scenes.
'I'd had some tests just before I left the UK and literally 15 to 20 minutes before [her first scene] I was in my dressing room at Fair City, getting ready to go on, and I was quite nervous and thinking, "I hope everybody thinks I'm all right, whatever",' she explained. 'And my consultant rang me and said, "you've got to come back to the UK". I said, "well I can't possibly, you know, I've just taken a new job I'm away for a month".'
Despite the shock, Beverley remained resilient, stating, 'I'm fine. I'm absolutely fine. My head was a bit mashed for the first few days. It's very early stages, and I'm along with, you know, thousands of other women as well.'
