Tracy Shaw has shared an emotional update on her cancer treatment, describing the "pain and suffering" she has been feeling. But rather than dwelling on the gruelling treatment, the former Coronation Street star said she had chosen instead to share the "moments of joy."
Tracy, 53, posted photos of herself with her face bathed in sunlight as she watched a series of sunsets and sunrises from outside her home. Her selection also included pictures of her dogs and flowers in her garden, as she tried to bring some light relief to the ordeal.
Tracy, who has just had her fourth round of chemotherapy, said she is focusing on "spiritual growth" by concentrating on the good in her life. She wrote: "Phew round 4 hit hard. I've chose to show the moments of Joy I experience, hoping they bring light to those in the same position."
"Amidst this pain and suffering, I've had to dig deep into the constant spiritual growth, to creation and its wonders," she continued. "Knowing what's coming each cycle doesn't make it easier, but I'm not panicking, definitely trusting the process, honestly it's agony, but keeping it in the day."
She added: "Praying a lot for others. Grateful to have met others to share this journey with, life sisters. Feeling absolute rubbish at the moment but this too shall pass. Love and gratitude x."
Birthday celebrations with family
In another recent post, Tracy said she had "never been as grateful to be alive on a birthday" as she turned 53. She shared family snaps, joined by her brother Karl and son Luca, 19, in beaming photos on Instagram.
She wrote: "53,& grateful. Visit from my brother #mrshaw, karl shaw. Luca just back from Truck festival, preparing for next weekends festival." She thanked a friend, Lisa Dawson, "for the the most amazing gifts, from a breast cancer survivor who just knows what to buy," adding: "Never been as grateful to be alive on a birthday. Looking forward to next years celebration."
Tumours remain inoperable
Just last week, Tracy fought back tears as she revealed her breast cancer is currently inoperable until her tumours shrink in size. She posted the update to Instagram last Thursday after going for an ultrasound to check on her condition, hoping chemotherapy would have shrunk the lumps.
In the teary clip, Tracy explained that while the lumps had changed shape from round to oval, they had not got any smaller. Speaking to the camera, she said: "Good morning, everyone. So as I told you all, I had my ultrasounds today to find out if the lesions had shrunk. I also needed to check a lump that I'd found on the other breast, which is on the right breast."
"The good news is that the lump, well there's actually quite a lot, are all cysts, so that's good news and the lesions on my left breast," she said, before adding: "Well, my expectations were that 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. I don't know what I was expecting. I think I'm just expecting some results of what I've felt, some results of what the body has had to go through to!"
Diagnosis and the start of chemotherapy
Tracy was diagnosed with the disease in April after finding a lump in her breast and has been in treatment since. In May, she broke down in tears in an emotional video revealing she was about to begin chemotherapy, sharing that treatment would start the following week.
In that video, posted on Instagram, Tracy admitted, "I can't go through this anymore." She 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," she said. "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."
She added: "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 that post, Tracy revealed she had been told she would start chemotherapy "next week." She wrote: "Moments happen. After filming this, I spent the morning in the chemo ward having tests. Thank you for all NHS staff. No other women, mostly men, cancer doesn't discriminate gender. We will start our chemo journeys at the same time. Next week. Love & peace to everyone on their cancer journey."
Days after posting the clip, Tracy revealed she had had much of her hair cut off to prepare for hair loss, one of chemotherapy's most common side effects.
Life on Coronation Street
Tracy is best known for playing Maxine Peacock on Coronation Street from 1995 to 2003, before her character was murdered by serial killer Richard Hillman. Maxine began as the friend of Fiona Middleton, played by Angela Griffin, before betraying her by having a one-night stand with Fiona's boyfriend, Steve McDonald.
Tracy was awarded the Rear of the Year title a year after making her debut on the show. Maxine went on to marry butcher Ashley Peacock, played by Steven Arnold, and had a child with the local doctor despite being married to Ashley. Maxine was murdered when Richard Hillman hit her with a crowbar after she returned home from the pub.
Tracy also launched a pop career in 1998, releasing two singles, "Ridin' High" and a cover of Lonnie Gordon's "Happenin' All Over Again." After leaving the soap, she played smaller roles in ITV dramas and has spent most of her time in the theatre.
