At the end of the fifth year the studio had its fill of her. Her fights and drinking on the set, late arrivals, hangovers and missed days were not tolerable. They offered Jan three million and she signed. They made no offer to Denise. With the increased costs the show might not survive with her. They had one problem. The taping of the fifth season was already complete. They would have to pay her for two episodes to write her out of the script. She was approached. It was all season or nothing. And now she wanted $10 million for that.

The writers were called together. How could they write her out without her appearing? One of the writers remembered a two-year old episode where Denise’s character had found a lump in her breast in a Health class that was teaching breast self exam. In the episode it was biopsied and found to be benign. The show won good feedback from groups of older women who had previously not watched the show and some became regulars. Part of this was due to the good press from women’s health groups. They had done a good job of promoting regular breast self exams and prompt treatment in a proper light. The writers toyed with playing off that episode and decided that anything they did would not be responsible. A finding that the biopsy was wrong and then having her die of breast cancer within three months would be just plain wrong. It would rankle some of their viewers. Socially it may turn women against doing exams and taking prompt life saving action. It was discussed with the Executive Producer, herself a breast cancer survivor. She agreed this was not a socially responsible solution. She would not approve such a reckless venture. She looked at the writers and shook her head. “I’m glad you are looking for alternatives and I appreciate your efforts. We just can’t use this one and if I am hearing you right, you are uncomfortable with it. I am glad you are. I would sooner sign her for the ten million and do two episodes where she goes off to college than this. I would sooner spend the money than harm women who need help them most. There has to be a better way. Find it.”

Two years before a young woman was added to the team of writers at the start of the season to help make the dialog more contemporary. The old team of three who had been with the show since its inception at first found it hard to accept the newcomer. Corrie was just out of college and about the age of their own children. But when the first two weeks ratings were up significantly and the comments from viewers included that the dialogs were more real she was immediately a part of the team.