Former Coronation Street star Tracy Shaw has shared an emotional health update with fans, revealing she is struggling after her first round of cancer treatment. The 52-year-old actress, best known for playing Maxine Peacock on the ITV soap, disclosed last month that she is battling breast cancer.
First Chemotherapy Injection
In a candid Instagram video, Shaw explained that her initial chemotherapy injection had left her feeling exhausted. She said: "So yesterday I had my first injection of chemo. It's one which affects my heart, so I have to have my heart checked on a regular basis for scans."
With her hair cut short ahead of the treatment, she continued: "It really wiped me, I don't know if it's because I had to go back into hospital and it's so hot in there. Why doesn't the government just look after the guys at the NHS a little bit more and invest a bit more into our hospitals."
Social Distancing and Immune System
Shaw added: "I'm feeling the effects today. I've taken my first injection to help my immune system. Basically from tomorrow I can't really socialise. My immune system will be really low. The other thing is temperatures."
Determined to fight the disease, she told fans: "My body is now going to war with that thing in me which doesn't belong in here."
Message to Supporters
She captioned the video: "Thank you for all your love and support. Extremely long update unfortunately, but I'm struggling to reply to everyone individually, grab a cuppa and a biscuit or scroll if you'd like. Sending all my love to everyone on the same journey with chemo and cancer in general. I promised I'd keep it real."
Career and Diagnosis
Shaw played Maxine Peacock on Coronation Street from 1995 to 2003, when her character was killed off by serial killer Richard Hillman. After leaving the soap, she appeared in shows such as Casualty and Doctors, and most recently starred in the musical drama Finding My Voice last year.
In April, she revealed her diagnosis in a social media video, saying: "I have come on just to explain a situation that is happening in my life. I have been diagnosed with breast cancer. I have to have chemo for five months, then hopefully surgery to have lumps removed and take the nymph glands out. Thank you for messaging me to check how I am because I haven't been present."
