Emmerdale spoilers: Tension rises as Liam Cavanagh confronts Aaron Dingle over cancer gene lie
When Chas Dingle (Lucy Pargeter) discovered that the breast cancer she was diagnosed with in Emmerdale was linked to her having the faulty BRCA2 gene, she suddenly had a lot more than just her own health to worry about.
Knowing that the gene had been passed from her mother, Faith (Sally Dexter), there was a chance that Faith’s other children Cain (Jeff Hordley) and Caleb (William Ash) could also have it. This would make them more at risk of breast cancer themselves, and they could have potentially passed it to their children too.
Chas also knew that her own children, Aaron (Danny Miller) and Eve (Bella James), were at risk. While Eve was too young to be tested for the gene, it’s something that will have to be faced in the future.
For now, Chas implored Aaron and her brothers Cain and Caleb to get themselves tested.
We know that the results were mixed. While Cain and Caleb tested negative, meaning that they and their children are in the clear, Aaron’s test came back positive.
This was news he decided not to share with anyone – not even Chas. He saw her straight after her double mastectomy operation and she was buoyed by her brothers’ good news. Aaron didn’t want to give her anything more to worry about and pretended his test was also negative.
‘I think he’s always been one of those who doesn’t like the constant eyes and attention on him,’ Danny Miller told us. ‘If he was to tell people straight away when he’s not dealt with it himself, he’s likely to get a lot of people asking him if he’s alright, which is the worst question you can ask him really, because he’s just that type of person and he doesn’t like the questions.’
Whether this course of action is the right one for Chas, and for Aaron himself, is debatable. One person who thinks Aaron has made the wrong call is Dr Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson).
He knows that Aaron’s test result was positive, and he also knows that Chas believes that it was negative.
Obviously Liam has to respect Aaron’s patient confidentiality and can’t say anything to Chas, but in upcoming episodes he does his best to convince Aaron that he needs to tell his mum the truth.
Aaron has never been someone who likes being told what to do and he makes it quite clear to Liam that his interference isn’t wanted.
But will it make him rethink his decision to lie to Chas?