An Oldham man has shared why he has been involved in helping Coronation Street with its latest hard-hitting health storyline in which Kit Green has been seen being given a breast cancer diagnosis.

As viewers of the ITV soap, which is filmed in Salford, know, the diagnosis comes on the back of the death of Kit’s great-aunt, Celeste. Before she died, she made Kit’s half-sister, Gemma Winter-Brown, aware that the family may carry the familial BRCA gene.

Carrying a familial BRCA (Breast Cancer) gene mutation means inheriting a harmful change in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes from a parent, which significantly raises your lifetime risk of developing certain cancers.

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But as their mum, Bernie Winter-Alahan, and Gemma face testing, unbeknownst to them, Kit has already been seeking medical help due to concerns about his own health and was recently diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, something almost 500 men in the UK face every year.

The Coronation Street production team are working closely with Macmillan Cancer Support and Breast Cancer Now to accurately portray Kit’s cancer while raising awareness of the very real risks of the illness amongst men.

Although male breast cancer is real, it is rare, and as it accounts for less than one per cent of all breast cancer cases, many men do not realise they can get it, which leads to embarrassment, delayed diagnoses, and higher mortality rates.

David is among those men who have received their own diagnosis. He was 62 when he was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in 2019.

He explains: “I went to the doctor at first about the fatty breast issue, medically known as gynecomastia, but was told, ‘It’ll never come to anything’. Then I had an inverted nipple, so I went back to the GP and got a referral for a biopsy and tests. I was diagnosed with an invasive ductal carcinoma grade 3.

“I had a mastectomy and then axillary clearance, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. My first thought was how was I going to tell my wife and my sons.” David adds: “In 2022, I had a repair to my original mastectomy site, and a risk-reducing mastectomy to the other side as I tested positive for BRCA 2.”

According to Macmillan, the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes usually protect us from cancer. A variant in either of these genes reduces the level of protection. Over time, this may mean some types of cancer are more likely to develop. For men, and people assigned male at birth, who have a BRCA2 gene variant, they have a higher risk of developing prostate, breast and pancreatic cancer.

The cancer spread to David’s lungs in 2023, so it is now classed as stage 4 breast cancer. The cancer is treatable but incurable. “I’ve been told treatment is available until it either doesn’t work, or my body can’t take it or the side effects,” he says. “The purpose of these meds is to prolong life and sadly not cure. Cancer will eventually overcome the meds and build a resistance and sadly return. Until then, we fight on.”

Following his diagnosis, David has received support from Macmillan through welfare advice and grants, specialist nurses, the Support Line, community forum and the local Macmillan support service in Oldham.

“With Macmillan, it felt like someone was fighting my corner, particularly after I was made redundant and I felt like I was a man with breast cancer in a world where no one wants me,” David shares. “My specialist breast cancer nurse at The Christie gave me permission to be myself. I don’t have to hide anything or pretend nothing’s bothering me. You become yourself, and that’s all because she allows you to do that.”

Now, David is using his own experience to help others. “I’m a cancer champion for an organisation in Manchester which targets harder to reach groups that don’t attend screening programmes,” he explains. “There’s no screening programme for men. I say to the ladies, please go along, it might be uncomfortable, but it’s a few minutes, and then you could be told you have it, or thank God you haven’t. But by raising awareness to women, off the back of that, they can remind men to do the same thing and check [their] breast tissue.”

He adds: “People often don’t realise that the [Macmillan] helpline is there and the forums, because if you don’t have cancer, why would you look for these things? I used Macmillan forums a lot when I was first diagnosed and used to call the support line a lot to get support on side effects.

“They have always given me the right advice at the right time and been a lifeline. Macmillan is amazing at signposting, which shows they are supporting the person affected by cancer and have their best interests at heart.”

It has led David to work with the Corrie cast recently on Kit’s male breast cancer storyline. “I am involved in some exciting social media activity as part of the Macmillan partnership with Coronation Street,” he shares. “I am pleased that Coronation Street are running this storyline because it increases the awareness about breast cancer in men and highlights that men can and do get this cancer.

“I know myself, seven years on from my primary diagnosis, that there are still men who don’t realise that men can get breast cancer. Those people see the illness as a female condition and don’t equate that while men don’t have a lot of breast tissue, there’s enough to develop breast cancers and it can run in families. Men might be more likely to have more awareness if family members have had or died through having certain cancers.”

He adds: “Talking about these things saves lives and this story being on prime-time TV will absolutely help people. Even if it’s a female telling her spouse, brother, or father, ‘I told you men can get it!’”

Diversions will be put in place

A road will completely close for a month as part of the Black Cat roundabout roadworks. Roadworks are ongoing on the A428 Black Cat roundabout to transform it into a three-tier grade separated junction.

As a result, multiple road closures have been put in place while the work has been going on. The latest road closure will be on Barford Road in Little Barford between Friday, September 25 and Monday, October 19.

National Highways will be carrying out the works. In a letter to Abbotsley Parish Council, a National Highways spokesperson said: “Barford Road, Little Barford, will be closed from 9pm on Friday, September 25 until 6am on Monday, October 19 2026.

“This closure is needed so we can carry out drainage works and final tie-in works for the new alignment safely. The road will be closed 24 hours a day for the duration of these works. Access for residents within the closure area will be maintained. Please be advised, there will be no through route between St Neots and Tempsford via Barford Road, Little Barford Road during this period.”

During the works, National Highways will remove the existing road surface, install deep drainage, kerbs and the road base, build a new access to residential properties, and complete the final surfacing and white lining.

National Highways added: “We will make every effort to complete these works as quickly as possible, however, please note that all dates are subject to change due to weather conditions and operational requirements. We appreciate that this may cause some inconvenience and thank you in advance for your patience and understanding while we carry out these essential works.”

Diversion routes will be in place during the roadworks:

• From A1 northbound: Traffic will continue on the northbound and join the A428 eastbound at Wyboston. Traffic will continue eastbound along the A428;
• From A428 westbound: Traffic will continue heading west along the A428 before heading south on the A1. Traffic can then leave the A1 at Tempsford.

Haxby Town Council published a guide with a reminder to residents on its website on Monday, September 14 with a distinction given between anti-social behaviour and criminal offences.

A council spokesperson said it is working actively with North Yorkshire Police, ward councillors, the deputy mayor for policing, fire and crime for York and North Yorkshire, and the MP for York Outer Luke Charters to reduce incidences of crime and anti-social behaviour.

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Back in the Autumn last year Luke Charters was in Haxby filming a piece for Channel 4 about anti-social behaviour on the high street.

Mr Charters said at the time he’d been working hard to tackle the issue over the past year alongside Deputy Mayor Jo Coles and had been filming for a piece that aired on The Political Slot on Channel 4.

In May 2025, North Yorkshire Police identified Ethel Ward Playing Field in Haxby as one of the county’s anti-social behaviour hotspots but at the time said targeted enforcement had helped cut incidents significantly.

In a statement, a Haxby Town Council spokesperson said: “We receive police ASB reports every month and discuss these at every meeting.

“Recently, the local police and PCSO attended one of our meetings and it is clear that there has been a spike in ASB nationally – and Haxby is not immune to this.

“However, we were pleased to hear that North Yorkshire Police are expecting an increase in newly-trained and recruited police officers, which should improve police presence and availability.”

The council said its website advice is essentially provided as guidance for which incidents should be reported to 101, or in emergencies to make a 999 call.

The spokesperson added: “If incidents are not properly reported then we cannot expect a police response.

“We actively encourage our residents to continue to report ASB incidents as this enables more police presence in the area. 

“Posting on social media and comments on press articles will not be captured by the police so residents need to ensure they report through the official channels to ensure long term action is successful.

“Police advise us to use the 101 phone number, as call wait times are much improved.”

The council said it, alongside Wigginton Parish Council, funds youth services through the Haxby and Wigginton Youth and Community Association, which provides youth workers at Oaken Grove Community Centre.

This support aims to keep young people engaged and reduce incidents of ASB, the spokesperson said.

The council said it will continue working with police, bus services, and youth projects to address the problem.

Suggestions under consideration include improved street lighting, clearer sight lines, and the potential installation of CCTV cameras.

The council spokesperson added: “Separately, following ASB incidents earlier this year, we are also looking at ways to prevent vehicular access to the Ethel Ward Playing Field.

“We are optimistic that newly refurbished courts will mean more people using the playing field more often; and this we hope will discourage isolated incidents of bad behaviour.”

Builders

This is a catch-all term for chemicals that boost the cleaning efficiency of your detergents. Builders are used to soften water, which enhances the performance of your detergent. Sodium carbonate does this by raising the alkalinity of the water while silicates work to keep dirt off fabrics once it has been lifted and protect your washing machine against corrosion.

Capsules

Also known as pods or tabs, these are sachets containing liquid detergent. They’re quick and convenient because you don’t have to worry about dosing, but you can’t use them for pre-treating stains like you can with liquids. My top tip: place your pod at the back of the drum before you put the clothes in. This stops it from falling on the washing machine door and not mixing with the clothes. Some pods have sections that break down at different times in water, which helps to release ingredients like fabric softener at the right time in a wash cycle. If you live in a hard water area, you may need a double dose which can be costly.

Enzymes

Found in biological detergents, these are proteins that accelerate the breakdown of specific stain molecules. Just like how the enzymes in our bodies break down food, these chomp through tough stains including grease, sweat and blood. There are four classes of enzymes you might find on an ingredients list. Protease breaks down protein stains, such as blood, grass, egg and sweat; amylase is best for starchy stains, such as pasta or gravy; lipase handles fats and oils, including butter and cooking oil; while cellulase works on the cellulose fibres of fabric to prevent build-up on your clothes. Look for enzymes if you want to sanitise delicates without washing at high temperatures.

Fragrance-free

You should only see this on the packaging when there are no added perfumes or chemicals to create a scent.

Gels

Gels are a thicker variant of laundry liquids. They tend to come in squeezable bottles for easy application. You can apply them directly to the stains to treat them before washing.

Liquids

Liquids are thinner and runnier than gels. They penetrate fibres quickly making them great for delicates, but they’re prone to spilling which wastes product.

By MARTI STELLING, HEALTH REPORTER

Published: 00:01 BST, 20 September 2026 | Updated: 01:48 BST, 20 September 2026

Will Monster get a season 5 on Netflix?

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At least two people have been killed and six injured in a “massive” overnight Ukrainian drone attack on the Moscow region, Governor Andrei Vorobyev has said.

Vorobyev said 249 drones had been shot down, and he reported fires in several residential houses. A local warehouse was also ablaze. In the capital Moscow, an oil refinery was damaged, and flight restrictions were in place at two airports.

Earlier, a Ukraine official said seven people, including two children, were killed in Russian attacks in the Kyiv and Sumy regions on Saturday.

Russia and Ukraine have recently intensified their strikes, targeting energy-generating and transport facilities, as well as major logistics hubs.

In a post on Telegram on Sunday, Vorobyev said a 44-year-old woman was killed in Sofyino after a drone hit a three-storey residential building. Another five people – including two children – were injured, he said.

In the Orekhovo-Zuevo district, an elderly man died after a private house was hit, the regional governor said.

Videos have emerged on social media purportedly showing explosions in the night skies in the Moscow region, and of a burning warehouse. The footage has not been verified by the BBC.

Meanwhile, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said a drone struck a building near one of the capital’s boulevards and a facility at an oil refinery was damaged.

He said on social media that 450 drones heading for Moscow had been shot down in what he called an “unprecedented attack”.

Sheremetyevo – Moscow’s biggest airport – warned passengers about “temporary restrictions” in place, while at the capital’s Vnukovo airport all arrivals and departures were halted.

In Ukraine, a mother and her two small children, a boy and a girl, were killed in Saturday’s Russian attack in the city of Fastiv, Kyiv regional head Tymur Tkachenko said.

He added that several private houses were also damaged.

In the north-eastern Sumy region, four people were killed when a Russian drone hit the car they were travelling in, top local official Oleh Hryhorov said.

Both Russia and Ukraine have continued to hit energy infrastructure targets in the past week, despite US President Donald Trump claiming on social media that the two sides had agreed not to.

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Ever since my mother’s death in February, I’ve been getting clear messages from her that she does not want me to wear her jewellery. 

It may not be the loving communication I was hoping to receive if her spirit’s watching over me but, even so, there is a certain comfort in the idea that she is still around.

None of the jewellery she left us had any financial value. Some of it I don’t remember her ever wearing but my siblings and I didn’t want to simply chuck it out. 

When we distributed it, I took a bracelet by designer Pippa Small strung with small unpolished gemstones, as well as the very plain watch my mother always wore. It has a slim black strap and a simple face of Roman numerals.

Within weeks of my taking the watch, however, I lost it. Distraught, I searched everywhere, including in the recycling bins as they often turn out to be the repository of missing items. But it was nowhere to be found.

My trainer at the local gym told me his Iranian mother said a special prayer whenever anyone in the family lost things and it never failed. He would ask her to say it for the watch. All I had to do was to tie a knot into a piece of fabric and keep it knotted until the watch was found.

Three weeks later the watch did reappear down the side of a sofa. I put it back on my wrist, only for the front glass to fall out and the watch to stop working.

Similarly, the bracelet has broken twice – the first time was as I slept, so I woke to discover myself lying on the stones. Then, last week, after having it restrung, the chain snapped again with the gems scattering over the floor of a store I was in. Mama, I hear you!

Lost child is truly the stuff of nightmares 

A child that disappears one afternoon is every parent’s nightmare and nobody should have to suffer the utter misery, despair and hopelessness that the family of Noah Wood will be experiencing after his body was discovered in a local pond last week.

The degree of terror when a child vanishes is like nothing else. One minute they are in your sightline, the next, gone. It’s happened to all of us but, thankfully, in most cases they re-emerge safe.

My own son Sam disappeared when he was five. We were visiting Rome and walking around St Peter’s Basilica near to closing time when I turned around to find him gone. 

The tourists were thinning out but the church was enormous and filled with hundreds of sculptures, papal tombs and a million places for a child to hide.

I kept thinking about how frightening it would be for him should he get locked in and, plagued by child-snatching fears, I ran wildly around, grabbing at guards and shouting to everyone that I had lost un piccolo ragazzo con i pantaloni rossi. Never have I been more terrified.

After about 20 minutes, somebody found him outside running happily around St Peter’s Square. He was chasing pigeons under the gaze of the 140 saints and martyrs who line the Colonnades. I was massively relieved, but also furious with him.

Even though he was safe and only gone for a short time, the horror of his potential loss stayed with me for days. I can only imagine how it would have felt if it had turned out otherwise and my heart goes out to Noah’s family.

Reunion magic? It can’t Live Forever…

Conversely, one of the best evenings of my life was spent with that same child, now 31, watching Oasis at Wembley last year. It was an incredible concert and going with Sam was emotional in ways I still can’t analyse.

It was made more special because it was the first time Noel and Liam had played together since their split almost 15 years previously. Now, only a year later, they’ve announced dates for another tour. 

It can’t erode my memories of that evening but it does somehow undermine the uniqueness of that reunion tour, and the magic can’t possibly be repeated again.

Pop doesn’t have to be political, just good

Will Oasis, like Ed Sheeran, be expected to reveal their views on Gaza when they perform?

Sheeran’s current US tour is in meltdown after his support act Macklemore used his platform on stage to publicise his ‘Free Palestine’ views.

It’s opened a whole can of worms over whether an artist like Sheeran is correct to stay publicly neutral. Personally, I would much rather he did and that we accept performers can keep their views to themselves.

Certainly, there are some I might admire for their opinion but, in general, I just want to go and see them play their incredible music.

I’m not paying for hugely expensive concert tickets in order to hear them share their political views.

Even the tech bros suit up for the King

I found it oddly reassuring to see the respect the tech bros had for King Charles at his AI summit in Scotland last week. 

Usually geeks are the masters of dressing down – Sir Demis Hassabis, founder of Google DeepMind, is often in crew necks; Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, in leather jackets – but for the King, these men who control whether AI will kill off humanity, scrubbed up nicely, appearing in suits and ties.

How Jemima got her bridal gown so right

Jemima Goldsmith married multimillionaire financier Cameron O’Reilly last weekend wearing an almost completely transparent dress 

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Jemima Goldsmith looked absolutely wonderful at her wedding last weekend to businessman Cameron O’Reilly. 

Walked down the aisle by her two handsome sons, she wore a beautiful white tiered Oscar de la Renta wedding dress which, at first glance, seemed very conventional. On second glance, however, it was clear it was almost completely transparent.

Jemima is perhaps the only woman I know who could get away with such a revealing outfit, managing, at 52, to look traditionally bridal and knock-out sexy without the slightest trace of tackiness. 

Sophie Law was at the salon when her hairdresser broke some unexpected news: she had a patch of hair missing.

At just 16 years old, she was horrified. ‘How had I never noticed this before?’ she asked herself.

After leaving the salon, she booked in with her GP, where a blood test revealed she had an underactive thyroid, which the doctor said was the likely cause of her hair loss.

But medication to stabilise her thyroid hormones didn’t make a difference. Her hair continued to shed. 

She spent the following decade trying everything from density-boosting shampoos to cutting out gluten and even a red‑light therapy helmet, but nothing worked. 

By the time she was 23, she began to notice multiple bald patches when running her fingers through her hair. 

Eventually, aged 26, the Kent-based logistics manager was diagnosed with alopecia areata – the autoimmune condition that caused Jada Pinkett Smith to suddenly lose her hair.

Crucially, it cannot be cured.

Sophie is pictured before her hair loss (L) and when the alopecia areata took hold (R)

‘I used to cry about my hair loss every single day,’ says Sophie. 

Some patients see success with medication like steroids that stop the immune system from attacking the hair follicles. 

Sophie, however, decided against it due to worries about side effects. 

Instead, she relied on a temporary hair-colour powder to fill in the areas where her bald patches were visible, but was constantly worried about it rubbing off. 

‘Every time I would leave the house, I would worry about the wind blowing my hair in the wrong direction,’ she says.

‘I was hiding my hair loss from everyone around me. The only people who knew about it were my family. 

‘It consumed so much of my brain, and that then left very little space for me to actually be present in the moment and be happy.’

She considered clip-in hair extensions, but this was not an option as there was not enough hair for them to clip on to.

Then, earlier this year, she found a solution that finally restored her confidence: an £800 wig. 

Ready-to-wear wigs, which can be made from human hair or artificial fibres, are popular options for people experiencing hair loss. 

Human hair wigs usually range between £200 and over £2,000 and can be styled with curling irons and straighteners, like normal hair. They need to be washed every seven to ten wears. 

Those made from artificial fibres are a more affordable option, usually costing between £50 and £300, and typically last four to six months with regular wear.

Sophie’s wig, which she purchased from Wig and Weaves by Hediye in Ashford, Kent, is made from human hair and features a transparent lace hairline that blends into the scalp.

To try and stop her hair falling out, Sophie tried everything from density-boosting shampoos to a red‑light therapy helmet

Sophie is pictured wearing her £800 human hair wig, which has restored her confidence

‘As soon as I put the wig on, I cried happy tears,’ says Sophie. 

‘It made me feel normal – and like my old self before I even had any hair loss.’

Harley Street trichologist Marie Royce says she sees women every day whose confidence is destroyed by hair loss. 

‘Hair loss can knock a woman’s confidence far more than people realise,’ says Ms Royce, who is based at The Wimpole Clinic. 

‘I see women who are constantly checking mirrors, avoiding certain lighting or worrying that somebody is looking at their scalp. 

‘It becomes exhausting, because you are thinking about your hair all the time.

‘There are medical treatments that can help, but that is not right for everyone, and neither is a transplant. 

‘Some women are not suitable candidates, some do not want surgery, and some simply want a solution that gives them an immediate cosmetic improvement.

‘A really good wig can be completely life-changing. It gives back density and coverage straight away, but more importantly, it can take away that constant anxiety.’

Sophie, who regularly speaks about her hair loss on TikTok, says her family have seen a major change in her personality.

‘My hair is the best it’s ever looked and this has meant my confidence has increased so much,’ says Sophie

‘My mum and dad really struggled seeing me so upset with my hair loss,’ she says. 

‘They can see how much more confident I am now, which means they worry about me a lot less.’   

While she initially planned to wear the wig on special occasions, she now wears it every day.

‘Given how good it makes me feel about myself, I wish I’d done it sooner,’ she says. 

‘My hair is the best it’s ever looked and my confidence has increased so much. 

‘Before, when I looked in the mirror, all I saw was my hair loss –  but now, if I’m feeling sad about it, I can just put on the wig and forget about it.

‘I don’t hide the fact that I wear a wig either; if someone compliments my hair, I will tell them it’s a wig.

‘It felt so shameful and embarrassing when I first started considering wigs – but I’ve changed my mindset on this and I really hope we can start to change other people’s too.

‘Wearing a wig is the same as wearing hair extensions or makeup – you wear it because it makes you feel good about yourself – and it doesn’t need to be a dirty secret.’