Coronation Street star Tracy Shaw, best known for playing Maxine Peacock in the ITV soap, has shared a health update after completing her first chemotherapy session. The actress, who revealed she is battling breast cancer, documented her journey on Instagram, showing herself having her hair cut off and donating it to charity.
First Chemotherapy Session Completed
In a video posted on social media, Shaw explained that she spent more than eight hours at her initial appointment. 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. 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."
She continued: "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."
Hair Donation and Wig Shopping
Following her decision to cut her hair, Shaw donated it to The Little Princess Trust, a charity that provides wigs for children with hair loss. She also ventured out to shop for a replacement wig, posting footage of herself modelling various styles while being assisted by a Macmillan nurse, who offered guidance to others in similar situations.
Emotional Journey and Support
Earlier this month, Shaw revealed the emotional difficulties she has been encountering, telling her followers: "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."
She has received an outpouring of support online from her followers as she posts updates on every stage of her journey, with many of her recent posts emphasising that waking up is a "gift" each day.
