Coronation Street bosses have defended a storyline revolving around a child’s cancer after accusations that it isn’t realistic enough.
In the soap, five-year-old Hope Stape has been diagnosed with neuroblastoma, which develops from nerve cells called neuroblasts.
According to the NHS UK website, this aggressive form of the disease affects around 100 children each year and usually occurs in youngsters under the age of five.
Corrie’s Fiz (Jennie McAlpine) and Tyrone (Alan Halsall) face an anxious wait (ITV)
Millions have watched anxious parents Fiz Brown (Jennie McAlpine) and Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall) agonise over her condition, but in last Friday’s episode, they were told Hope was in remission following a few months of treatment.
The Sun reports viewers Victoria Young and husband Rob were unhappy with the development. They have a three-year-old daughter named Ruby who has the same condition.
On their Facebook fundraising page Help Ruby Laura Smash Cancer, a post said: “I was so pleased when I heard Coronation Street were doing a storyline on neuroblastoma to raise much needed awareness, but the whole thing has been a farce.”
Corrie’s Fiz and Tyrone (ITV)
The post continues: “Not only am I disappointed in this storyline, I am disgusted and offended they have made it look like a walk in the park.”
In response, Rosa Jostin said: “I don’t get it. The Lucy Beale storyline in EastEnders went on and on and is still kinda going on yet a subject so real in people’s lives like cancer in children and Corrie gives it three months tops. Pathetic.”
Corrie’s Fiz, Tyrone and Hope (ITV)
Writing in the same thread, Ray Finney added: “I have always thought Corrie did a reasonably good job of tackling and raising awareness of important issues (albeit within the constraints of drama), but this storyline has been appalling and an insult to families coping with the reality of cancer. Complaints to ITV it is then!”
A Coronation Street spokesman said: “We have not at any stage said Hope is cured at all. This is an ongoing story which has been researched thoroughly.”
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