Former Coronation Street star Tracy Shaw has shared an emotional update on her breast cancer journey, revealing that her latest ultrasound results were not what she had hoped for. The actress, best known for playing Maxine Peacock on the long-running ITV soap, has been documenting her treatment on Instagram since publicly announcing her diagnosis earlier this year.
Ultrasound Results Bring Mixed News
In a video posted to Instagram, Shaw, 52, updated her followers on the results of an ultrasound scan. She explained that the scan was needed to check if lesions on her left breast had shrunk and to investigate a lump she had found on her right breast. The good news, she said, was that the lumps on her right breast were cysts. However, the lesions on her left breast had not shrunk as expected.
“The lesions on my left breast, well, my expectations were that it was – judging by what personally I’ve gone through and what the chemo does – I thought they’d shrunk, but basically they’ve gone from being circular to oval, but not really shrunk in size,” Shaw said, fighting back tears. “I don’t know what I was expecting. I don’t know, maybe a few more rounds will be all it takes. But I know they can’t operate until they shrink it.”
A Raw and Honest Journey
Shaw has been praised by fans for her openness throughout her treatment. In the emotional clip, she admitted she had hoped for a “miraculous miracle,” but remained optimistic that it might still come. The following day, she posted another update, this time with a more positive tone, expressing gratitude for the support she had received.
“Thank you so much for your truly inspiring, encouraging messages,” she said in the second video. “There was one lady who sent me a message [saying] sometimes the shape of it is still there because they are dead cancer cells. I like that, I’m hanging on to that one!”
Finding Gratitude Amidst Struggle
Shaw also reflected on the silver linings of her journey, noting that she has learned to appreciate small moments. “Today I woke up at 4am, because I do go to bed early, and I sat and waited and watched the most beautiful sunrise,” she said. “And I realised the gifts and the gratitude that I have, that although the whole of this journey’s distance is pretty excruciating most of the time, there’s some major plus signs to how my life has changed.”
She added that she has connected with other women going through similar experiences, calling them “amazing women who have gone through way more than I was crying about yesterday.”
Support from Fans and Followers
Since announcing her diagnosis, Shaw has received an outpouring of support on social media. Her Instagram posts have been flooded with encouraging comments from fans and fellow soap stars. In her first update, she captioned a clip: “Ultrasound day. After hearing the news, went to TK Maxx to buy more hats, followed with a huge M&S food shop to cheer me up.” She thanked followers for their “lovely messages” and sent “all my love.”
The actress’s bravery in sharing her journey has been widely praised, with many highlighting the importance of raising awareness about breast cancer and the realities of treatment.
