Royle Family star supports cancer care project

Writer and Comedian Caroline Aherne has spoken about how brilliant treatment and a sense of humour have helped her with her third cancer battle.

The Royle Family and Mrs Merton star gave a speech to medics and patients to help improve cancer care in Manchester.

Research by Macmillan showed the city has the highest number of people dying prematurely from the disease.

Elaine Willcox was at the partnership's launch:-

The award winning TV writer and actress Caroline Aherne, who is undergoing treatment for lung cancer related to a genetic form of the disease, joked about it being the third time she has faced the disease.

Aherne said: "My brother and I were born with cancer of the eyes, the retina, my mum told us only special people get cancer. I must be very special because I have had it in my lungs and bladder as well."

The Royle Family comedian gave a typically irreverent speech about her treatment and condition as she spoke to a gathering of 170 cancer patients, medics and carers at Manchester Town Hall for the launch of a new scheme to improve cancer care in the city.

Watch video clip:-

Aherne shared a joke from the time of her chemotherapy treatment at the Cecilia Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital, involving Royle Family co-star Ricky Tomlinson who played her on-screen father.

Aherne said: "The cleaner came in one day, she went, 'Oh, I knew you were here, they told me you were here, oh that's great, I love the Royle Family but I would've much preferred it to be Ricky in that bed!'

"She was wishing lung cancer on Ricky Tomlinson!"

Watch video clip:-

The Royle family star Caroline Aherne is supporting a multi million pound bid to improve cancer care in Manchester.

Caroline, who grew up in Wythenshawe, recently revealed she's fighting lung cancer. In the past she has been treated for eye and bladder cancer.

She's due to speak at the launch of the Macmillan Cancer Improvement Partnership this morning.

The £3.45 million MCIP is a partnership of all cancer care providers in Manchester - its aim is to improve the experience of everybody affected by the disease at every stage of the cancer journey.