Coronation Street star Tracy Shaw has given an emotional update after being admitted to A&E over the weekend due to a high temperature. The 52-year-old actress, best known for playing Maxine Peacock on the ITV soap from 1995 to 2003, revealed her breast cancer diagnosis earlier this year and has been documenting her treatment journey on social media.
Hospital Admission and Health Complications
Speaking from a hospital bed in tears, Shaw explained that she experienced 'really, really high temperatures' that spiked several times, prompting her to seek emergency care. 'I didn't want to go to A&E in the hot weather so my body has suffered today,' she said. 'As a consequence, I came in to A&E early this morning and I just want to say thank you to the NHS and everyone in the A&E department.'
Shaw revealed she was suffering from a 'really bad' bout of shingles, a stomach infection, and thrush throughout her body. She praised the 'incredible' staff for working tirelessly during the 11 hours she was there, despite the lack of air conditioning in the department.
Challenges of Cancer Treatment
Shaw acknowledged the difficulty of being in A&E with a compromised immune system. '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. 'It's really hard at this point when my immune [system] is so low to get through that part of the department without catching anything else.'
Just last week, Shaw shared that she was 'still standing' after chemotherapy to tackle her breast cancer had 'hit hard'. She had previously explained that she was 'prepared for side effects this time' and thanked her followers for their support. She added that she was 'grateful' that the chemo was brutal as she imagined 'how the HER2 positive cancer feels'.
Public Journey and Advocacy
Shaw was diagnosed with cancer in April and has continuously opened up to fans about her diagnosis. She has used her platform to keep people updated, including donating her hair to The Little Princess Trust. Earlier this year, she appeared on Lorraine to explain why she chose to share her journey. 'It isn't an easy path,' she said. 'I'm only sharing it because there are millions of ladies and gentlemen who are going through the same thing and it's just not a very nice piece of the disease, chemo really.'
She also highlighted the broader impact of cancer on families. 'The whole family and all the people who are following and messaging at the moment – those mothers with sons, younger sons or with sons my age, the family members are messaging. Sometimes just by me sharing about what the effects are, they understand how that person might be feeling, because you don't know.'
Life After Coronation Street
Shaw bowed out of Coronation Street in 2003 when her character Maxine was killed off. Since then, she has focused on charity work, including the Tracy Shaw Foundation for eating disorder support. Her ongoing health battle has drawn widespread support from fans and fellow soap stars alike.
