Coronation Street actress Tracy Shaw has shared an emotional update with fans after revealing the painful side effects she is experiencing during chemotherapy.
The 52-year-old, best known for playing Maxine Peacock on the ITV soap, announced in April that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Now, in a candid Instagram video, Tracy has opened up about the difficult reality of treatment, admitting that she feels “starving” but is unable to eat.
Wrapped in a hoodie, the actress described the harsh aftermath of chemotherapy and said she was trying to listen carefully to what her body needed.
“Welcome to the reality of the situation of living on two different parallels of the aftermath of the chemo effects,” she told followers.
Tracy explained that one of the reasons she has been unable to eat is because she has developed thrush inside her mouth, while her lips have also become badly chapped.
“I’m absolutely starving and I can’t eat,” she said. “I have thrush in my mouth. My lips are chapped.”
The former soap star also revealed that she had woken up feeling as though she had pneumonia, adding that her immune system was “really struggling” that day.
Because of that, Tracy said she had decided to stay at home, protect herself and rest.
“So I’m listening to the body and I need to protect that and stay home,” she explained.
Despite the difficult update, Tracy also shared a touching detail about the kindness she is receiving from people around her.
She revealed that a supportive friend, whom she described as an “Earth angel,” was bringing her chemo-friendly meals to freeze, along with handmade turbans and a sewing machine so she could make items herself.
The actress ended her video by reflecting on the emotional and spiritual side of her journey.
Although she admitted that her body felt as though it was “dying,” Tracy said she had also experienced a powerful sense of peace early that morning.
She described watching the sunrise, spending time with the birds and being with her dogs, saying the moment had left her feeling calm.
Fans quickly filled the comments with messages of support, love and strength.
One follower wrote that they hoped the day would be kind to her and that her dogs would give her plenty of cuddles.
Another sent “love and strength,” while a third praised Tracy for staying positive and continuing to smile through such a difficult time.
The update comes shortly after Tracy donated her hair to The Little Princess Trust before losing it during chemotherapy.
The charity provides real-hair wigs for children who have lost their hair due to cancer treatment or conditions such as alopecia.
Tracy played Maxine Peacock in Coronation Street from 1995 until 2003.
Her character became one of the soap’s memorable faces, with storylines involving several romances before her tragic death at the hands of serial killer Richard Hillman.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/
