Alma's agony

IT'S a turn of plot that should have the nation hooked. Coronation Street's ever-popular Alma, once described by Roy Hattersley as the sexiest woman on TV, is to fight a losing battle with cervical cancer. Shocked viewers will see her being told she has terminal cancer after a re-called smear test proves positive - and shows the disease to be in an advanced stage.

This is just the kind of gritty, hard-hitting plot Corrie needs to regain the initiative from EastEnders following the engrossing drama about Who Shot Phil.

ITV's war-horse soap has already cranked up the drama with its Who Raped Toyah? story-line, and now poor Alma's misfortune aims to boost the ratings of the Manchester-based soap. All of which proves that the soap wars are hotting up again.

This new distress cooked up by the producers and scriptwriters is set to run throughout May and June, giving plenty of exposure to cervical cancer. However, health experts are already expressing concern at the way in which the disease has been handled in Coronation Street, while actress Amanda Barrie is said to be unhappy about how she is being written out of the soap.

Alma is first being given the all-clear when she goes for a smear test - only to be recalled later. It emerges that she actually has an advanced case of cervical cancer.

"There is some kind of mix-up and she's given the all-clear when she shouldn't be," confirms Corrie spokeswoman Zoe Cartell. "She goes back in, and it turns out she has an advanced form of the disease."

Coronation Street bosses are remaining tight-lipped about the details - though one tabloid newspaper has already 'revealed' that Alma refuses treatment, and dies surrounded by friends. Zoe Cartell confirms this.

What has alarmed health professionals - and, according to some reports, Barrie herself - is that this scenario could see women putting off going for a smear test. Also, women who have been given the 'all clear' may be given unnecessary worry about whether they really are in the clear.

Barrie is reported to have said if the show put off just a single woman from going for her smear test, she would "feel guilty for ever".

Zoe Cartell admits the actress had initially had reservations, but says she came round after having the chance to talk with experts.

"The storyline has been extensively researched," she says. "Amanda Barrie did show initial concerns, but she has since met up with a cancer specialist who has reassured her it is accurate."

Soaps have a tradition of tackling gritty issues such as rape and health problems. Sometimes, by airing the issues, they can help to inform the public. But Dr Christine Bates, head of North Yorkshire's York-based cervical screening service, says Alma's experience could do more harm than good.

Health experts involved with the screening programme had approached Granada about the storyline, she confirmed - but had been told it would go ahead. "Their feelings are that this will foster anxiety amongst women, especially women who have had abnormal tests," she said.

She added it was vital women continued to come for screening when they were invited once every three years. The smear test was a quick and simple procedure that could be done locally - and while it might be slightly uncomfortable, could undoubtedly save lives, she said.

About 4,000 women in the UK are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year. But because screening allows signs of the slow-developing condition to be picked up early before cancer has actually developed, death rates have been falling steadily.

Nevertheless, about 1,300 women a year still die from this cancer, Dr Bates said. Improving screening rates was one of the best ways to reduce that figure.

Women aged between 20 and 65 are automatically invited to come for a smear test every three years - but only about 80 per cent of women do so.

If you are worried, charity Cancer BACUP has a telephone helpline. Call 0808 800 1234 between Monday and Friday, 9am to 7pm.