Former Coronation Street actress Tracy Shaw broke down in tears on Thursday as she revealed that her breast cancer tumours have not reduced sufficiently for surgeons to operate, despite months of chemotherapy.
The 52-year-old, who disclosed her diagnosis in April, posted an emotional video to Instagram after receiving the results of her latest ultrasound scan.
Filming herself as she left hospital, Ms Shaw told followers that the outcome had fallen short of what she had anticipated, given the physical toll her treatment had taken.
“I thought they’d shrunk but basically they’ve gone from being circular to oval, but not really shrunk in size,” she said. “I don’t know what I was expecting.”
Tracy Shaw is an English actress and singer best known for portraying Maxine Peacock in the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street | GETTY
The actress had previously told fans she required five months of chemotherapy following her breast cancer diagnosis.
The scan did deliver some positive news, however. Ms Shaw had discovered a lump on her right breast that also needed investigating, and the ultrasound confirmed that these growths were all cysts rather than anything more sinister.
“The good news is that the lump, well, there’s actually quite a lot, are all cysts, so that’s good news,” she told her followers.
Yet the results concerning her left breast proved far more disappointing. Despite the gruelling effects of her chemotherapy regime, the lesions had merely altered in shape rather than diminishing in size.
“I think I’m just expecting some results of what I felt. What the body has had to go through to,” she said, visibly struggling to hold back tears as she processed the mixed outcome.
Ms Shaw became emotional as she acknowledged that additional rounds of treatment might be necessary before surgery becomes viable.
“Maybe a few more rounds will be all it takes, but I know they can’t operate until they shrink it,” she said, before adding: “I was just expecting some miraculous miracle. Maybe it’s to come.”
Despite her distress, the actress attempted to remain upbeat, signing off with: “All my love to you all.”
Ms Shaw has been sharing candid updates on her cancer journey with her Instagram followers
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INSTAGRAM/TRACY SHAW
In the caption accompanying her video, Ms Shaw revealed how she had coped with the disappointing news.
She wrote: “After hearing the news, went to TK Maxx to buy more hats. Followed with a huge M&S food shop to cheer me up. Thank you to you all for your lovely messages.”
The post was quickly met with an outpouring of support from famous faces and fans alike.
Sally Ann Matthews, who portrayed Jenny Bradley on the cobbles, commented: “Stick in there kidda xxxxx,” whilst Waterloo Road star Kym Marsh wrote: “So much love to you babe.” (sic)
Drag Race favourite Baga Chipz also rallied behind Ms Shaw, telling her: “I’m giving you the biggest hug. Stay strong hun.”
Ms Shaw is best known for her portrayal of Maxine Peacock in the long-running ITV soap, a role she held from 1995 until 2003 when her character was infamously killed off by serial killer Richard Hillman, played by Brian Capron.
Beyond Coronation Street, she appeared in programmes including Casualty, Doctors, The Blue Room and Mile High, and also pursued a brief pop career during the late 1990s.