Emmerdale legend Cain Dingle was dealt a devastating blow during Monday’s episode

An Emmerdale legend has received heartbreaking news as he faces what could be “the end of the road”.

ITV soap fans will recall that Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) was shot during the dramatic Corriedale crossover back in January. Following the incident, whilst recovering in hospital, the beloved character discovered that medical staff had detected an irregularity during routine testing, prompting them to carry out a biopsy for further examination.

Last month, Cain headed back to the hospital for his results, where the physician delivered devastating news – he’s been diagnosed with aggressive, though localised, prostate cancer. The village stalwart has kept his condition under wraps, confiding only in his granddaughter, Sarah Sugden (Katie Hill), and trusted friend and local doctor Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson).

Whilst awaiting his scheduled April operation, Cain has also been wrestling with his wife Moira’s (Natalie J Robb) imprisonment, alongside Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) attempting to seize control of Butler’s Farm, reports the Daily Star.

Matters took a turn for the worse in Monday’s (March 2) episode, currently streaming on ITVX. During the episode, Lydia (Karen Blick) kindly volunteered to care for Cain’s children for several days, but the stubborn patriarch declined the gesture, before quickly realising he was teetering on the edge.

Cain’s frustration mounted after discovering that Joe had organised a herd inspection at the farm following a potential tuberculosis scare, resulting in a movement restriction until clearance was granted.

Village vet Vanessa Woodfield (Michelle Hardwick) disclosed that she’d quarantined the affected cow and notified the Animal and Plant Health Agency, with one of their vets en route to examine the entire herd.

“If any show up as positive, they will have to be culled. You will get compensation,” Vanessa revealed.

A devastated Cain, who’s returned to stealing cars for additional income, responded: “It’s not enough… So, we could lose the whole herd, couldn’t we? This is it, the end of the road.”

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Later, Cain delivered more sad news, stating: “I’ve been on every site I know to try and find a way out of this, but there just isn’t one. If those tests come back positive, those cows can’t even be turned into dog food.”

Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb) then divulged that several of their purchasers had caught wind of the situation and were insisting on substantial price reductions.

Joe, who is believed to have leaked the information to buyers, then reiterated his proposition to purchase the farm, though Cain remained silent. “I wonder how long you can cope with all these losses you keep racking up,” Joe said. “If you lose the herd, the farm is basically done for.”

However, Matty (Ash Palmisciano) reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining the farm’s operations during Moira’s absence. Following the dramatic scenes, numerous Emmerdale viewers have expressed their worries about Cain’s wellbeing as he continues to grapple with farm life. Meanwhile, others are imploring him to reveal his cancer diagnosis to his loved ones.