Beverley Callard has said she feels "really guilty" after her latest cancer setback left her family in tears, as she continues to wait for the results of her stomach biopsy.
The 69-year-old actress, best known for playing Rovers landlady Liz McDonald on Coronation Street on and off for 30 years, announced earlier this year that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer around the time she relocated to Ireland with her husband Jon McEwan to join the cast of RTE's soap Fair City.
After initially undergoing an operation and completing a round of radiotherapy, doctors urged her to have further scans on her stomach. More than a month on, she is still awaiting the results and has been so ill that she has had to miss work for the first time.
Nausea and Stomach Pain
Speaking in a new video posted to Instagram, she said: "Today my nausea has been so bad. For the first time ever, I actually couldn't go to work. And so I had to go see the GP, and she said... she can't believe I've not got my results from the stomach biopsies."
"It's five weeks now. We're still waiting, and, oh, it's just getting me down now. It's just the nausea and stomach ache, then it'll go away and then it comes back again."
"And apparently, this is quite... according to lots of you, it's quite common after radiotherapy. But it does seem to be dragging on a long time. And so they're giving me some different tablets to try and ease the pain in my stomach. But it was a pretty bad day today."
Family Impact
The former I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! star currently has her mother-in-law Christel staying with her and admitted that, as the situation with her results rumbles on, she even saw the 94-year-old break down in tears but is determined that things will look better soon.
"And even worse, Christel, my mother-in-law, actually had a little cry because she was so worried about me. So then you feel really guilty because there's a 94-year-old lady crying about my health."
"She was actually trying to look after me today, which she doesn't need to do. But so yeah, it was just one of those days today. But... we will bounce back."
Beverley captioned the post: "An update with no update sadly… oncology results are taking an age meanwhile the nausea seems to be getting worse."
Husband's Complaint and Fan Reaction
Her update comes one day after her husband Jon complained about the lack of results. He said: "It's Breast Cancer Awareness Day, which we are obviously very aware about. But do you want to know something? We still haven't got any results! We have phoned, we have done everything."
"Obviously, they've had their strike so that's put that back. The medication side of it is still not sorted so it might well be Breast Cancer Awareness day but my God, things are weird!"
In the comments section, fans were furious that Beverley is still waiting for her results. One said: "That is so unacceptable to wait that long, you should make a complaint. Hope it eases for you soon." Another wrote: "Thats just a long time to wait," and another follower said: "That's outrageous to wait 5 weeks. Hope you get your results soon."
A fourth fan praised the actress for the way she has used her platform to raise awareness, as they said: "Miss Beverly-what ever happens-wherever this goes you have made a impact on other women. Your openness and positivity has truly touched us all. Tomorrow is another day."
