Coronation Street icon Tracy Shaw has emotionally revealed that there is "nothing normal about life" as she undergoes treatment for breast cancer. The 52-year-old actress, best known for playing Maxine Peacock on the ITV soap from 1995 to 2003, appeared on Thursday's edition of Lorraine to provide an update on her condition.
Shaw, who announced her diagnosis earlier this year, spoke candidly about the challenges of chemotherapy. Dressed in a colourful headscarf and bright makeup, she told host Lorraine Kelly: "Unless you've been there, you don't know how awful it really feels because there's nothing normal about your life anymore when you're going through chemo."
Despite the gruelling treatment, the actress—who has also appeared in theatre, dramas such as Mile High and Casualty, and enjoyed a brief pop career—considers herself "lucky" and is using her platform to call for increased government funding for cancer research. "I consider myself very, very lucky and very fortunate. There's so many people diagnosed with a lot worse than I am," she said.
"There's people been diagnosed with terminal, there are people who are suffering much more than me so every day I just wake up and thank God that I've been given this opportunity. That's why I try and raise money. Without the scientists and the charities that raise money to be able to fund these experiments, who give me the opportunity to live, basically. If we had more funding, government, and more funding for the likes of cancer and injections and things that move forward, we would stand more of a chance for ladies and gentleman to live today."
Her appearance on Lorraine comes just days after she tearfully admitted she had "no strength left" following a trip to A&E last weekend. Describing the ordeal, Shaw said: "Day 10 after chemo. Another trip to A&E...most of the day asleep. I've got cream for thrush all in my nose, my mouth, my ears, my head. I've been constantly on the toilet and there's no strength left."
She added: "The chemo kills everything - including the lining on my stomach. There is no strength and there is no...it feels like I'm as vulnerable as a baby. It's very difficult to be around people, that have been around noises, you're so sensitive. I still can't taste anything or eat anything, my staple diet is six eggs, and plain crisps and plain bread. It just feels really tough today."
Shaw, who has two adult sons from a previous relationship, revealed that her eldest son was away at a wedding, so her neighbour Robbie stepped in to take her to hospital. However, she faced a setback when the pharmacy did not have her prescription in stock. "This is just something we have to do. I guess they don't give you every prescription that they think might happen. I don't know, is this because of money?" she questioned.
She praised the support from online communities and medical staff: "It just feels really...difficult to dig deep without the help of the ladies that I'm in contact with on Instagram, when I do go into A+E and see doctors, I rely on their help and their guidance for what they've been prescribed, to advice the doctors in A+E so thank you, ladies for saving my life today."
