Tracy Shaw has revealed she has completed her first day of chemotherapy on Thursday after being diagnosed with breast cancer. The actress, 52, was diagnosed with the disease last month and shared a new video update on Instagram detailing her treatment from 9am until 5:30pm.
A Positive Outlook Despite Side Effects
The former Coronation Street star said she is feeling really positive but explained that everything she eats tastes horrible. She said: 'First day of chemo done! I'm feeling alright but that has a great amount to do with the steroids which are helping my body fight the chemo that has gone in.'
She continued: 'So I went in today to start at 9am and I left at 5:30pm, very hot day and there was a bit of delay. Basically with my chemo injection, one of which hadn't arrived, it's got nothing to do with robots or anything to do with the hospital team, it was the medics delivery, so yeah that was the delay.'
'But I'm feeling really positive but everything I keep eating tastes horrible. Everything tastes of metal, just like you told me, and every now and again I feel like the Incredible Hulk, I want to start moving furniture around, the dogs keeping away from me because they sense that.'
Gratitude for NHS Support
Tracy concluded by thanking the NHS and sending love to other people fighting the disease. She added: 'So what I want to say the most is that I want to send everyone love who has started chemo, to those starting chemo tomorrow or done chemo and or is in this process with me I send love and courage.'
'And I found it ok today, the nurses are amazing and everyone who works there I just don't know how they do it every day, they are obviously angels to have that patience with what I would call one of the most extreme jobs to do and yet they don't get paid for that in the way that they should do. So let's big up the NHS everyone.'
Emotional Journey Leading to Treatment
Last week, Tracy broke down in tears in an emotional video, as she revealed to her followers that she was set to start chemotherapy for breast cancer. In a video posted on Instagram, Tracy shared the toll her cancer diagnosis has had on her, admitting 'I can't go through this anymore.'
She previously played Maxine Peacock on Corrie from 1995 to 2003, before she was sensationally murdered by serial killer Richard Hillman.
In the video, Tracy said: 'I'm just going to be me, and my truth is… by the way, I've not shaved my hair off, I've just put a scarf on just because I've not done anything with it and I'm going to hospital.'
'Each morning I wake up and know that I have to go into hospital and receive more news, which has been going on for a long time, that unknown… I just think, 'I can't go through with this anymore,' but I've not even started my journey.'
'I've had a good cry. I'll go in later today and I'll meet some other ladies who will start the treatment with me – chemo. And I'll find out the date. 50 per cent of me wants to get going. I want to know that it's being shrunk and the cancer is being dealt with.'
'When I wake up and I've got really bad headaches or I can feel another twinge in my other boob, I just think, 'Oh, it's moving!''
'All forms of cancer are awful, most of the time, I get on with life but then I think that's probably what we do. But the fact is when you wake up in the morning and you think 'It hasn't gone away.' It isn't like the addictions that I've recovered from by the grace of God. There appears to be a long road ahead, or a mountain.'
In the caption of her post, Tracy revealed she'd been told she would start her chemotherapy 'next week.'
Preparing for Treatment
Days after posting the clip, Tracy revealed she'd had much of her hair cut off to prepare herself for one of chemotherapy's most common side effects, hair loss.
Tracy revealed last month she'd been diagnosed with breast cancer, telling her followers: 'My diagnosis of breast cancer. So the journey begins ….. Love to everyone who is also going through this journey, looking forward to hearing from you all, especially you amazing survivors.'
She shared at the time that doctors told her she would need chemotherapy after tests revealed she has HER2 in her cells. HER2 is a protein that promotes cancer cell growth and is found in more aggressive types of the disease.
The actress added that after a course of chemotherapy, she hoped to have surgery to remove lumps and lymph glands, so more tests can be done, which could lead to further surgery before radiotherapy.
In the video, Tracy told her fans she is on the 12-step programme, a programme aimed to help support recovery, having 'recovered from many addictions'. She continued: 'Anorexia, bulimia, alcoholism, drug addiction, codependency, love addiction, you name it, I have been addicted to it and I have recovered from it.'
Tracy also thanked fans for sending concerned messages after she took a step back from social media for Lent. She said: 'Thank you for messaging me to check how I am because I haven't been present on Instagram. That was due to during Lent I came off scrolling, I came off social media and put my phone down. I spent some time away from technology which has helped with dealing with this news.'
Her fans wrote: 'Sending love to you Tracy', 'What a brave and brilliant post. Sending positive vibes and love to you' and 'Thinking of you, I went through breast cancer two years ago. Sending best wishes x.'
The star finished the video with: 'I thank you all and I thank the Royal Berkshire Hospital and everyone who has helped get to this point. I will keep you posted on this journey.'
Background of Tracy Shaw
Tracy played her character Maxine from 1995 as the friend of Fiona Middleton, played by Angela Griffin. Her character went on to betray her friend by having a one-night stand with Fiona's boyfriend, Steve MacDonald. Tracy was awarded the Rear of Year title a year after making her debut on the show. Maxine married butcher Ashley Peacock, played by Steven Arnold. She also had a child with the local doctor, despite being married to Ashley. Maxine died when she was viciously murdered by Richard Hillman. She was hit by a crowbar after she returned home from the pub.
Ms Shaw also launched a pop career in 1998 and released two singles: Ridin' High and a cover of Lonnie Gordon's Happenin' All Over Again. After she left the soap, she played smaller roles in ITV dramas. She has spent most of her time in the theatre.
Understanding Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and affects more than two million women a year. Each year in the UK there are more than 55,000 new cases, and the disease claims the lives of 11,500 women. In the US, it strikes 266,000 each year and kills 40,000.
What is breast cancer?
It comes from a cancerous cell which develops in the lining of a duct or lobule in one of the breasts. When the breast cancer has spread into surrounding tissue it is called 'invasive'. Some people are diagnosed with 'carcinoma in situ', where no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobule. Most cases develop in those over the age of 50 but younger women are sometimes affected. Breast cancer can develop in men, though this is rare.
Causes and symptoms
A cancerous tumour starts from one abnormal cell. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. It is thought that something damages or alters certain genes in the cell. This makes the cell abnormal and multiply 'out of control'. Although breast cancer can develop for no apparent reason, there are some risk factors that can increase the chance, such as genetics. The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast, although most are not cancerous and are fluid-filled cysts, which are benign. The first place that breast cancer usually spreads to is the lymph nodes in the armpit. If this occurs you will develop a swelling or lump in an armpit.
Diagnosis and treatment
Initial assessment: A doctor examines the breasts and armpits. They may do tests such as a mammogram, a special X-ray of the breast tissue which can indicate the possibility of tumours. Biopsy: A biopsy is when a small sample of tissue is removed from a part of the body. The sample is then examined under a microscope to look for abnormal cells. The sample can confirm or rule out cancer. If you are confirmed to have breast cancer, further tests may be needed to assess if it has spread. For example, blood tests, an ultrasound scan of the liver or a chest X-ray.
Treatment options which may be considered include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment. Often a combination of two or more of these treatments are used. Surgery: Breast-conserving surgery or the removal of the affected breast depending on the size of the tumour. Radiotherapy: A treatment which uses high energy beams of radiation focused on cancerous tissue. This kills cancer cells, or stops them from multiplying. It is mainly used in addition to surgery. Chemotherapy: A treatment of cancer by using anti-cancer drugs which kill cancer cells, or stop them from multiplying. Hormone treatments: Some types of breast cancer are affected by the 'female' hormone oestrogen, which can stimulate the cancer cells to divide and multiply. Treatments which reduce the level of these hormones, or prevent them from working, are commonly used in people with breast cancer.
Prognosis
The outlook is best in those who are diagnosed when the cancer is still small, and has not spread. Surgical removal of a tumour in an early stage may then give a good chance of cure. The routine mammography offered to women between the ages of 50 and 71 means more breast cancers are being diagnosed and treated at an early stage.
For more information visit breastcancernow.org or call its free helpline on 0808 800 6000.
