Caroline Aherne battling lung cancer: Royle Family actress supporting £3.4m bid to improve Manchester care

The actress is currently being treated in Manchester

Tomlinson says he never once heard her complain about her ill health and she always remained energetic

Caroline Aherne, The Royle Family actress and creator, is suffering from lung cancer.

Aherne – who has fought eye and bladder cancer in the past – revealed the news as she supported a £3.4 million bid to improve cancer care in Manchester, where she is being treated.

The comedienne and her brother were both born with a rare cancer of the retina. Both were treated, but Aherne was left nearly blind in one eye.

“I've had cancer and my brother’s had cancer and we know how it affects people,” she told The Manchester Evening News.

 

“We’re lucky in Manchester to have some of the best bits of cancer care with places like The Christie, the Nightingale Centre and the Cecelia Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital and St Ann’s Hopice - and the last thing I want to do is knock the fantastic work that goes on in this city.”

The actress plans to help launch the Macmillan Cancer Improvement Partnership, which will bring together cancer care providers and patients to better support those affected by the disease.

“It’s brilliant that all these big institutions want to make cancer care better for Manchester people, but even the best doctors, nurses and managers on earth aren't going to be able to understand what needs improving unless people affected by cancer in Manchester get involved and tell them what needs to change.

“The reason why the partnership has been formed is because all the partners recognise that the whole cancer care system is fragmented, meaning that people do fall through the cracks.

Aherne, who is currently the voiceover for Gogglebox, is known for having written and created the British comedy series and for playing one of its characters, Denise Royle. She also conceived and starred in The Mrs Merton Talk Show.

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