Corrie star's life was 'stripped away in seconds' as he prepares for ITV return (2025)

Jack James Ryan has opened up about how acting became his lifeline

Former Coronation Street star Jack James Ryan has opened up about how acting became his lifeline after he was forced to put his teenage years on hold when he was diagnosed with cancer.

Jack said his world was turned upside down when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer aged just 19. He is now backing Teenage Cancer Trust's Only Young Once campaign to raise awareness of how cancer impacts young people.

Reflecting on his own experiences, Jack, who is an ambassador for the charity, said he was in his second year of drama school when he was diagnosed after finding a lump in his testicle.

"My life changed dramatically,” he said. "I’d finally got to a point in my life where I wanted to be (at a top drama school), after years of working hard and auditioning.

"But when I was diagnosed with cancer, I stood and watched it all being stripped away from me in seconds. It was also a huge time in my life. My friends were out dating, going on holidays together, getting on with life and I had to hit the pause button. The thought of catching up and being left behind was daunting."

Fans best know the actor for playing Jacob Hay in the ITV soap. They soon came to like the young character after he was initially despised for grooming Simon Barlow and for his treatment of a grieving Leanne Battersby following the death of her son, Oliver.

When he later returned to the cobbles in 2022, Jacob struck up a relationship with Amy Barlow and while hs return was initially met with disapproval from Simon, Leanne and Amy's family, he went on to turn things around and even moved in with Ken Barlow and co at No.1.

But in January 2023, Jacob left Weatherfield with those closest to him thinking the worst after he pretended to be back dealing drugs after getting into trouble with his drug boss dad, Damon, and being warned to leave the street or risk Amy being hurt, leaving his girlfriend heartbroken.

Jack, who is appearing in a new ITV drama called I Fought The Law later this year alongside Sheridan Smith, has now recalled the moment his life unexpectedly changed.

"I was sat in a room with my mum and brother when the doctor told me I had cancer," he said. "I wanted to burst out into tears. My brother was getting chocked up and had to leave the room.

"My mum started crying but I knew I had to stay strong because I didn’t want to make it worse for them. I managed to hold in my tears but I still don’t know how I did that."

After receiving his diagnosis, Jack said his life dramatically changed and he went from being sociable, to being alone in his room all day.

"My family were amazing and were there to support me but I didn’t want to speak to anyone," he said. "I was depressed and I struggled communicating my emotions."

Within two weeks of being diagnosed, Jack had an operation to remove his testicle. He had chemotherapy to make sure the cancer didn’t spread and he was in a wheelchair for about two weeks.

"When I was having treatment I had to stop everything, including going to drama school. I felt like I was missing out on the opportunity that I’d worked so hard to get," he said. "It was hard being separated from my friends too – the whole experience made me feel like my life was being stripped away from me.

"When I was recovering, I spent a lot of time thinking about what it would be like to go back to university and get back into dating and meeting new people – the normal but important things people do at that age. But I was self-conscious and anxious about being intimate because the operation had changed my body.

"It was really difficult. The thing that I really struggled with was the mental health effects of having cancer. Body image issues, anxiety, and depression."

Jack said he didn’t tell people for a long time that he had cancer because he was nervous, embarrassed, and by telling people it made it feel more real.

"I told my close friends at drama school after I’d had surgery and they struggled to understand and process it but they were incredibly supportive," he added.

Jack has also opened up about how cancer impacted his life after treatment. "People don’t talk enough about after being in remission," he shared. "It’s the years after and trying to deal with the trauma of what you went through and how that impacts people.

“It will probably impact me the rest of my life. Ultimately acting saved me and became the lifeline I needed. When I was diagnosed I’d been cast in a play at school and the director told me that unless I told them I didn’t want to do it, they would do everything they could to ensure I could still be in the play.

"That was very reassuring knowing that I didn’t have to give up my career, despite it taking a turn that none of us expected. Being diagnosed with cancer as a teenager made me grow up a lot. It changed me and gave me a whole new outlook on life and gave me a new meaning to ‘you only live once’.

"Looking back, if I could speak to my younger self during that dark time, I’d say everything is going to be ok. This experience will not define you. It’ll be a part of your story which will make you stronger and will shape your future in a positive way."

He added: "Don’t be embarrassed about what happened to you, be proud that you got through it. I’d also tell him that although he’s not ready to talk about it now, that when he does, he’s going to make a huge impact and be the voice he never felt he had. I’d tell him I’m so bloody proud of him!"

Jack has shared his story as part of Teenage Cancer Trust’s Only Young Once campaign.