Neighbours regular Lucas Fitzgerald faces one of the toughest challenges of his life on UK screens next month as he is diagnosed with testicular cancer.
The mechanic's family life with partner Vanessa Villante and their baby son Patrick is just getting back on track when he receives the worrying news.
Digital Spy recently chatted to Scott Major, who plays Lucas, to hear his thoughts on the emotional storyline.
How did you feel about taking on such a serious storyline?
"Cancer is something that I've been touched by very closely. My father died of cancer four years ago, and I have a very, very close friend who is currently battling leukaemia as well.
"When I was told about the storyline, I suppose the first thing I thought was, 'I hope they're not killing me off!' Second of all, I knew that this was a great opportunity to give some truth to a very serious storyline. I really wanted to make sure that we took it to the next step and represented the storyline in a very true way."
Did you have to do some research into this type of cancer in particular?
"Yes, I did do a little bit of research. I do have another friend who I grew up with who had this particular type of cancer and lost a testicle, so I knew what he'd been through. But I did look further into what it entailed and what the possible outcomes could or would be. I took it very seriously in that respect."
Has the storyline been challenging for you to film?
"Definitely. There are generally some light and soppy moments on Neighbours, but I usually don't get those - I get the bigger and more serious storylines.
"It's certainly been a challenge, as when you're faced with your own mortality, that's a tough thing for anyone to consider. You always believe that it will not happen to you, so when it does, I think the way you look at the world changes."
Neighbours still has a huge audience worldwide. Are you hoping the storyline will help to raise awareness of testicular cancer?
"This is definitely something that I'm hoping comes out of this storyline. Men in general don't go and get themselves checked out if they have an ailment or feel a little bit off. I'd really like it if we could encourage people that it's okay to go and get checked out. The earlier the detection, the better. It'd be great to raise awareness because this illness touches so many people. Hopefully the storyline will do some good."
How does Lucas cope with the news?
"When Lucas first finds out the news, he does what would be a natural thing - he goes into denial and he doesn't want to believe that it's true. The first piece of news he gets is that he has a high white blood cell count. Lucas asks Dr Karl what that could be, so he goes through the options - it could just be a virus or it could be something a lot more serious.
"Lucas tries to convince himself that it is just a virus and everything will be fine, but after some further examination, they find a lump on his testicle. Lucas is still in denial and hopes that it isn't cancer, but then he does find out for sure.
"Once Lucas knows that it is cancer, the next question is whether it's spread. If it has spread into the abdomen, then it could be a lot more serious, but if it's just isolated to the one area, then he could be okay again once they've removed his testicle. Lucas is always looking for the hope and wanting to believe that things will work out for the best."
Why does Lucas hide his news from Vanessa?
"Lucas believes he's doing the right thing. They've been through a very tough time with their son Patrick being in hospital, but now things are starting to look up. Patrick's operation is a success, and they're moving into a new apartment, so Lucas doesn't want to worry Vanessa unnecessarily until they know all the facts.
"Lucas doesn't want to tell Vanessa until he absolutely has to, but he thinks he's protecting her."
Could this situation bring Lucas and Vanessa closer together in the long-term?
"I think any kind of serious illness or grief would definitely bring a couple closer together. If they do manage to get through this, I think they'll be closer than ever."
Do you think Lucas and Vanessa are a good match, or is it a relationship of convenience?
"They've certainly had a rocky road to get to where they are, but I truly believe that they're a great couple. They're very different people and they react differently to a lot of situations. Vanessa is a very fiery sort of character, while Lucas is more of a laid-back Aussie. I think it's a case of opposites attracting. They share a really good bond and have a very, very strong respect for each other."
Are you enjoying working with a baby on set?
"I love working with the baby! We've actually had a couple, because Patrick was in hospital and wasn't able to put on weight. We had a six-week production break over Christmas, so the baby that we originally had was a little bit too big by the time we got back. Although we were off for six weeks, the storyline just continued on to the next day.
"I don't have any children of my own, and playing with the baby on set is great. Although some days you feel sorry for him because 40 people, lights and a microphone isn't always the easiest thing for a baby to
Love many, trust few, always paddle your own canoe