Former Coronation Street star Tracy Shaw burst into tears after learning that her chemotherapy treatment had not worked as well as she had planned. The 52-year-old actress, best known for her portrayal of Maxine Peacock on the ITV soap, announced earlier this year that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Emotional update on Instagram
The soap star told followers earlier this week that she was scheduled to undergo further scans on Thursday to see if the disease had reduced or progressed. Now, the actress has shared an emotional new post where she struggled to hold back tears. She informed her fans that there was some "good news," but ultimately the intensive treatment didn't work as well as she had hoped because of how much she had been through physically throughout the six-week treatment.
In a video she shared on Instagram, she explained: "I had my ultrasounds today to find out if the lesions had shrunk. I also needed to check a lump that I'd found on the other breast, which is on the right breast. The good news is that the lump, well, there's actually quite a lot, are all cysts, so that's the good news."
Tearful admission about lesions
The TV star became emotional as she issued another update, reflecting on her difficult journey. She tearfully went on: "And the lesions on my left breast... erm... Well, my expectations were that, judging by what personally I've gone through and what chemo does, I thought they'd shrunk, but basically they've gone from being circular to oval, but not really shrunk in size. I don't know what I was expecting. I think I'm just expecting some results of what I've felt, some results of what the body has had to go through, too!"
The actress, who also enjoyed a fleeting pop career with a cover of the Lonnie Gordon track, Happenin' All Over Again, then burst into tears as she acquiesced that some sort of miracle would come along soon. She said: "I don't know... maybe, maybe a few more rounds will be all it takes, but I know they can't operate until they shrink it. I thought I'd give you a live update, but I was just expecting some miraculous miracle. But maybe it's to come. All my love to you all."
Support from friends and fans
It didn't take long for her famous friends and loyal legion of fans to flood the comments section with their well-wishes. Her former co-star Sally Ann Matthews, who played Jenny Bradley on the soap, urged her to stay optimistic. She penned: "Stick in there, kidda," while Drag Race star Baga Chipz added: "I'm giving you the biggest hug. Stay strong, hun [heart emoji]."
Another follower penned: "I'm so sorry you didn't get the results you wanted to hear. You're such a brave and incredible woman. Your miracle is on its way." A third echoed: "Sending so much love and strength to you. All your pink sisters are here sending you love and healing!" A fourth chimed in with: "Trust the process, everybody's body works slightly differently, so just go with the flow. It's a tough path to walk, but you are doing so well; just keep going. Sending healing thoughts your way."
