Emmerdale’s Lisa Riley reveals heartbreaking reason she refuses to have cancer test – despite her mum dying from it

EMMERDALE'S Mandy Dingle recently got tested for a gene that can cause cancer - but the actress behind the character has no plans to do the same.

Lisa Riley has shared that there is a chance she has BRCA2 in her DNA, as her mum sadly passed away from breast cancer 12 years ago.

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This means her current storyline on the soap is even more painful to act out as it hits close to home.

While the star joined other relatives on Emmerdale in finding out if they are genetically predisposed to the illness, Lisa does not want to add that anxiety to her own life.

She told the Mirror: "It's my life and I don't want to have that test done.

"We've had years of conversation about it at Emmerdale, long before this storyline, and people have asked me: 'But Lisa, with your history and your gene pool, why would you not do it? '

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"I reply: 'Because I don't need to do it.' I just want to be me and live my life from day to day. I could get hit by a lorry tomorrow."

Lisa does take a yearly mammogram to see if there are any cells or growths she should be worried about, but would rather not know if she has the BRCA1 or 2 gene.

Despite wanting to protect her own peace of mind, she does think it is a good thing show bosses are making the public aware of the health factors that play into getting cancer.

She added: "It's wonderful to know that we will be teaching the audience about it."

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Her character has been going through a difficult time ever since close relative Chas Dingle was diagnosed with breast cancer and got a double mastectomy.

Caleb and Cain Dingle took a BRCA2 test and received the all-clear.

Sadly, this was not the case for Chas's son Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller).

So far he has been tight lipped about the discovery that he is a carrier of the gene.