Former Coronation Street star Tracy Shaw has revealed she was rushed to A&E after suffering severe side effects from chemotherapy. The 52-year-old actress, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in April, shared an emotional video on Instagram detailing her struggles with diarrhea and thrush.
Shaw, best known for playing Maxine Peacock on the ITV soap from 1995 to 2003, admitted she has "no strength left" and feels "as vulnerable as a baby" just a week after starting chemotherapy. In the heartbreaking clip posted on Sunday, she said: "Day ten after chemo. Another trip to A&E. Most of the day asleep."
She continued: "I've got cream for thrush all over my nose, all in my mouth, my ears, my head. I've been constantly on the toilet. There's no strength left." Shaw explained that she had hoped for a break after the first week of treatment, but instead faced debilitating side effects.
"Basically, the chemo kills everything, including the lining of my stomach," she said. "It just feels like you're as vulnerable as a baby. It's very difficult to be around people, to be around noises. You're so sensitive." She added that she still cannot taste or eat properly, surviving on a diet of six eggs, plain crisps, and plain bread.
Shaw praised the support she has received from other women on Instagram, saying: "Thank you, ladies, for saving my life today." She also described the challenges of navigating the healthcare system while unwell, noting that her son had to attend a wedding alone while she went to A&E with the help of a neighbor.
"We had hours in A&E, then was given a prescription. When we got to a chemist they hadn't got it in, so then he went on his motorbike to some other chemist to try and get all the prescription," she recounted. "This is really painful and I was just looking forward to having to stop injecting anymore, and to stop having the bone marrow pain."
Shaw captioned the video with a plea for more NHS funding: "More funding for the NHS government please." She also thanked the A&E staff and her neighbors for their help.
The actress first revealed her breast cancer diagnosis in April, stating she was due to undergo five months of chemotherapy. She had initially planned to have surgery within two weeks, but test results led to chemotherapy first, followed by surgery to remove lumps and lymph glands.
Shaw's Coronation Street character Maxine was famously murdered by Richard Hillman in one of the soap's most memorable storylines. Since leaving the show, Shaw has appeared in various TV dramas and stage productions.
