Coronation Street star Beverley Callard has admitted to feeling "really guilty" after her latest cancer setback reduced her family to tears. The 69-year-old actress revealed earlier this year that she had been diagnosed with the illness around the time she moved to Ireland with her husband Jon McEwan to join the cast of RTE soap Fair City.
The soap legend, best known for playing Rovers landlady Liz McDonald in Coronation Street on and off for three decades, initially had surgery before completing a course of radiotherapy. Doctors subsequently advised her to have further scans on her stomach and, more than a month on, she is still waiting for the results — and has been so unwell that she has been forced to miss work for the first time.
Nausea and Stomach Pain
In a new video shared on 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 Left in Tears
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 wait for her results drags on, she even witnessed the 94-year-old break down in tears, though she remains determined that brighter days lie ahead.
"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."
Husband's Frustration
Beverley captioned the post: "An update with no update sadly... oncology results are taking an age meanwhile the nausea seems to be getting worse." Her update comes just a day after her husband Jon voiced his frustration over the absence of any 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, supporters were outraged that Beverley remains without her results. One wrote: "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," while a further follower commented: "That's outrageous to wait 5 weeks. Hope you get your results soon."
A fourth supporter commended the actress for utilising her platform to raise awareness, writing: "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."
