I suffer from incontinence – Emmerdale’s Cain is the best character to change perceptions
When I watched Emmerdale’s Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) rush to the toilet after wetting himself, before opting not to leave the house as planned, I instantly understood his heart-sinking dilemma.
Already struggling with an aggressive, localised form of prostate cancer, Cain is suffering with urinary incontinence, a side effect of his recent prostatectomy since having a catheter removed.
It turned out that the garage Cain owns doesn’t have a toilet, so staff are expected to head to the Woolpack instead – a major inconvenience that hadn’t been referenced until now.
As someone who lives with Crohn’s, an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), I have suffered from faecal incontinence, and it’s a relief to see people like me portrayed on-screen.
‘Anything that shines a light on incontinence matters,’ Pearl Avery, IBD Nursing Lead at Crohn’s & Colitis UK, shared with Metro. ‘Because stigma still leaves many people feeling they have to hide what they’re going through.’
Cain is embarrassed by his incontinence, and I felt the same way when it first happened to me. There have been times where I’ve turned down social invitations because of the issue, without revealing why.
Because, like Cain, a severe lack of facilities has affected my life. When a store I used to work at had no running water, employees were, incredibly, instructed to use the toilets in the building next door. Worried I might not reach the loo in time, I explained that I would not be able to cope under those conditions and promptly went home.
Unfortunately, while urgency is our only warning sign, I can’t always tell when I am having an accident. This is known as passive incontinence, where poo can leak at random.
It’s a debilitating problem that left me feeling isolated and mortified, but incontinence in any form is more common than you might think. For men, prostate cancer treatment can also cause bowel incontinence, while in rare cases, they can face long-term issues.
Yet despite its prevalence, the subject isn’t addressed enough among the male population. Prostate Cancer UK has been working closely with Emmerdale, and charity Specialist Nurse Meg Burgess told Metro that ‘For men, the issue often remains shrouded in secrecy.
‘That’s why Cain’s storyline is so important, in shining a light on this as an issue up to 60% of men can face for a time after radical surgery for prostate cancer, and in highlighting the support that men need to help them deal with it.
‘Men can leak too,’ she emphasised. ‘Four simple words, but when spoken they have the power to tackle a taboo that impacts the lives of hundreds of thousands of men across the UK every year.’
And Pearl of Crohn’s and Colitis UK has shared why it’s so important that this particular villager is at the centre of the discussion around incontinence.
‘Because Cain Dingle is such an established ‘tough guy’ character, this storyline has the power to reach those who might otherwise stay silent.
‘For people who live with Crohn’s or Colitis, bowel symptoms can cause embarrassment and isolation. Storylines like this help people feel seen, less alone, and encourage more openness and understanding.’
For men, and everyone else affected, characters like Cain could help stamp out an inner-shame that we simply shouldn’t be feeling. But this can only be achieved by screening the most uncomfortable of moments.
When he was arrested for public urination after mouthing off at PC Mike Swirling (Andy Moore) and another officer, an ashamed Cain avoided revealing that cancer treatment had affected his bladder; but eventually reached his first turning point by confiding in supportive wife Moira (Natalie J Robb).
Since the incident, Cain has learned the hard way that he can’t drink as much alcohol as he used to. He was advised that pelvic floor exercises could help his bladder function as normal again.
I got to the bottom of my problem (and I make no apologies for the pun), learning that my surgery to treat an anal fistula, as well as a bigger operation for a bowel resection, had weakened the nerves and muscles that control the release of stool.
While there are no guarantees, keeping my Crohn’s under control can lessen the occurrence. But as the surgery that stabilised my condition in the first place also caused my incontinence, it’s a catch-22 situation.
Though I had to do a lot of chasing, I was eventually put in touch with a dietitian for advice, as certain foods can help avoid diarrhoea which, in turn, can lessen bowel incontinence.
It’s early days with changing my food patterns, but so far, so good. A new medication has also alleviated my urgency, however everyone with IBD responds differently to treatment options and dietary changes that work for me may not for someone else.
Despite improvements, I will always be cautious about toilet access. As seen in the ITV soap, public toilets aren’t always around, and when they are, they’re mostly out of order, dirty or even, in some regions, charging for their use – causing a delay that could mean the difference between making it in time or soiling oneself.
When Cain started avoiding liquids, I felt another wave of familiarity. Having restricted my own intake before long journeys, a weight was lifted when I saw I wasn’t the only one taking extreme measures.
That’s why, for me, Emmerdale has nailed it by showing every beat of the issue, and Cain taking advice from Doctor Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson) to try leak-proof underwear was an important breakthrough while staying true to reality.
As a genre that used to shy away from discussing bathroom habits, it’s crucial that continuing drama, with its capacity to follow character’s lives in real time, is exploring incontinence in such depth.
This representation gives me hope that perception can change for the better.
I’m counting on Emmerdale to keep leading the way.
