Sick Coronation Street Star Liz Dawn Vows To Carry On As Vera

'Coronation Street' star Liz Dawn has vowed to carry on working despite having an incurable lung disease. The 65-year-old - who plays Vera Duckworth on the British soap - has been diagnosed with chronic emphysema. The illness makes her so short of breath she has to have oxygen on set, but the actress insists she wants to continue with her famous role. A 'Street' insider is quoted in Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper as saying: "She is a trouper and she is carrying on regardless." Liz - who has starred in ‘Coronation Street' for more than 30 years - has been fighting the disease in secret for a year-and-a-half. She said: "I'm doing really well. I'm just grateful that I have found a fantastic specialist. He's worked out a medication that means I can carry on doing what I love - which is being a mum and a grandma and working on ‘Coronation Street'. A spokesman for the show said: "Liz is a highly valued and popular member of the cast who continues to work as hard as ever. She loves her job and throughout her health problems she has wanted to carry on working."