Actress Tracy Shaw, known for her role in Coronation Street, has returned to the hospital for treatment amid her ongoing battle with breast cancer. The 52-year-old star posted a tearful video on Instagram Friday, detailing a visit to the A&E department due to experiencing significantly high temperatures.
Shaw expressed her apprehension about seeking hospital care, particularly in warm weather, due to concerns about infection given her compromised immune system from cancer treatment. "I had really really high temperatures yesterday and they spiked several times," she explained in the video. "I didn't want to go to A&E in the hot weather so my body has suffered today."
She took the opportunity to thank the National Health Service (NHS) staff for their work, noting the challenges they face. "It isn't easy coming in when we have cancer because there are a lot of people with - I'm not disregarding it - minor things, and some have just drank too much," she said, highlighting the difficulty of navigating the department with a low immune system.
Shaw also mentioned issues with air conditioning at the hospital and observed a dispute between engineers fixing the problem and the nursing team. "Yesterday in A&E, I watched the nurses doctors and staff work incredibly hard in the heat with no aircon," she wrote in her caption. "Everyone who is working in hospitals today I salute you."
Shaw was diagnosed with breast cancer in April and previously shared on Instagram that she had undergone her first round of chemotherapy. She has spoken about experiencing side effects such as thrush and severe diarrhea. Earlier in the month, she discussed with Lorraine Kelly the unpredictable nature of chemotherapy, stating, "The first dose, they don't really know how your body's gonna react, so it's a real big tester." She described her reaction as similar to contracting chickenpox and noted that side effects can emerge unexpectedly.
Her diagnosis came after she discovered a lump in her breast. Initially, she had visited a doctor for a different health concern and was referred for a mammogram. Shaw explained that the lump was situated on her rib, and she had initially postponed the mammogram, thinking it might not be serious. However, doctors were more concerned about cysts she had due to being on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), which can fuel cancer growth. The mammogram ultimately detected the lump.
Shaw has been sharing her journey on social media and has been heartened by messages of support from others facing similar challenges. She noted the broad impact of cancer, with messages coming from family members and individuals going through their own battles. She expressed gratitude for the advice and support from fellow survivors, emphasizing that navigating life during chemotherapy is far from normal. Shaw considers herself fortunate, acknowledging that many others are in more severe situations and some receive terminal diagnoses.
Tracy Shaw portrayed Maxine Peacock on Coronation Street from 1995 to 2003. Doctors informed her that chemotherapy would be necessary after tests revealed HER2 protein in her cells, which is associated with more aggressive forms of breast cancer. Following chemotherapy, she anticipates surgery to remove lumps and lymph glands, followed by further tests and potentially more surgery before radiotherapy.