Coronation Street star Beverley Callard has revealed she was left 'badly burnt' by her cancer treatment. The actress, known for playing Liz McDonald on the ITV soap, was diagnosed with breast cancer in February ahead of her first appearance in Irish soap Fair City. She underwent radiotherapy last month.
Finished 10 rounds of radiotherapy
After completing her final session, having had 10 rounds of treatment, Beverley, 69, announced on Instagram: "I’ve done it, I’ve just finished my last radiotherapy session, fingers crossed. That was number ten for me and lots of people have to have lots more, I know that. But for now, that’s finished so hopefully, don’t know for sure, but hopefully I won’t need any more."
Her husband Jon McEwan, who filmed the video, was heard saying: "Positive thinking, darling, that’s it." Beverley added: "To be honest, I feel a bit numb. Yesterday I really struggled, but today I’ve been fine. I’ve got to see the professor again in two months and then I’ll know a lot more and mammograms and oncologists and all that, but radiotherapy is finished for now, so I’m really thrilled."
Reveals side effects on Irish TV
This week, Beverley appeared on Irish talk show The Six O’Clock Show, the Irish equivalent of The One Show. During her interview with presenters Darren Kennedy and Daniella Moyles, she said nausea had been affecting her. According to the NHS, nausea can be caused by the cancer itself, treatments like chemotherapy or radiotherapy, or medications such as strong painkillers.
"Nausea, really tired and just wiped out a little bit. And I’m quite badly burnt. But I’m coping really well, actually," she said. She added: "I don’t know the actual prognosis yet, I see my oncologist again in two weeks time. So I’ll know more then, but I’m doing well."
Back at work and staying positive
With her now back at work, Beverley revealed that people had told her she shouldn't work. However, she insisted that if she didn't, she would 'just sit and feel sorry' for herself. "Believe me, I’ve done that as well, as we all do. But I need my mind to be occupied. If I’ve got lines to learn, it really helps. And believe me, I’ve had loads to learn, so it’s been good," she noted.
Earlier in the week, Beverley shared the shock she felt when she was first diagnosed, saying it left her feeling 'numb' and 'took a little while for it to sink in'. Speaking on RTE Radio 1, she said: "I just decided to keep going to work, mainly because, you just sit at home thinking about it. I worked all that day, and the next day and the next day because there was nothing I could do. I finished radiotherapy a couple of weeks ago. I don't have the results yet, I've got to wait, I don't know what the prognosis is and the next steps are but I coped with the radiotherapy well."
She continued: "I said to the staff that I thought I'd done well because I'd not missed any work and let anyone down. They said 'Yeah but the worst is yet to come.' The side effects come a bit later. Burnt skin, I was very nauseous, so tired, it wipes you and I didn't think I would be. [The treatment] isn't frightening, the thought of cancer is frightening, but I have met the most wonderful people through this."
