Coronation Street icon Tracy Shaw has been seen in tears as she was left having to visit A&E following her latest round of chemotherapy treatment.
The actress, who is best known for having played Maxine Peacock in the ITV soap from 1995 until 2003, before the character was famously murdered by Richard Hillman, shared in April that she will need five months of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
Tracy, who also enjoyed a brief pop career with a cover of the Lonnie Gordon track Happenin' All Over Again before going on to appear in Casualty, Doctors and Mile High, said at the time: "My diagnosis of breast cancer. So the journey begins…" before sharing a video going into more detail.
In that video, Tracy explained: "I have come on just to explain a situation that is happening in my life. I have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Originally I was going to be having surgery in two weeks, but because my results have come back that I am HER2 positive, it means I have to have chemo for five months. Then [there is] hopefully surgery to have lumps removed and take the nymph glands out so they can do some more tests. And possibly more surgery before radiotherapy."
The former soap star has since been keeping her followers updated on social media and last week, she opened up about the struggles of undergoing chemotherapy treatment. In a video posted on Friday (June 5), she shared: "The reality of the situation. The living on two different parallels. The aftermath of the chemo effects... I'm absolutely starving, I can't eat. I have thrush in my mouth and my lips are chapped. I woke up feeling like I had pneumonia, and, yeah, the immune system's really struggling today. So I'm listening to the body, and I need to protect that, and stay home."
But just days later, in a new video shared on Sunday (June 7) evening, Tracy tearfully admitted she had "no strength left" and she had begun to feel incredibly "vulnerable" amid her ordeal, especially after her latest dash to A&E.
She 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. In my head I thought there may be a break after maybe a week after chemo so this is the effects that the chemo has had on the body. So, basically, 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."
Tracy also wrote alongside the emotional clip: "Chemo side effects. Day 10 after chemo. Another trip to A&E. Every trip needs blood and heart checked. All ok, just side effects. More prescriptions…. THANK YOU TO ALL YOU LADIES FOR YOUR MEDICAL ADVICE. MORE FUNDING FOR THE NHS GOVERNMENT PLEASE." She added: "Thank you for all the staff in A&E. Thankyou to my neighbours, Robbie especially."
