Coronation Street star breaks down in tears after missing crucial cancer appointment: ‘Anxiety is horrendous’
Tracy Shaw was reduced to tears on Wednesday after missing a crucial breast cancer appointment when she spent 45 minutes circling the car park at Royal Berkshire Hospital without finding a single space.
The 53-year-old, best remembered for her portrayal of Maxine Peacock in the long-running ITV soap Coronation Street, shared her distress with followers in an emotional Instagram story recorded from her vehicle.
Ms Shaw, who discovered a lump in her breast earlier this year and received a cancer diagnosis in April, had arrived at the hospital with time to spare.
Despite arriving with time to spare, the actress was ultimately unable to attend the appointment.
The former soap star recently completed her fourth cycle of chemotherapy as she continues treatment
|
INSTAGRAM/TRACY SHAW
In her tearful video, Ms Shaw told followers: “I rang them and they said because it was the first appointment, they’re not sure [if] the doctor can see me now.”
When staff suggested she try parking on nearby streets, the actress said the chances of finding a space were extremely slim.
“Everyone who knows, [or] comes to Royal Berkshire [Hospital], knows there’s a real problem for finding a space,” she added.
“The anxiety it’s brought up is horrendous and the one appointment I’m looking forward to having, I couldn’t make.”
The actress has been undergoing chemotherapy as doctors wait to see whether her tumours shrink enough for surgery
|
INSTAGRAM/TRACY SHAW
Ms Shaw explained she had nobody available to give her a lift, as her son Luca has returned to university.
She noted this was not an isolated incident, revealing she was once 45 minutes late for chemotherapy due to the same issue.
The appointment will now need to be rescheduled.
The actress completed her fourth cycle of chemotherapy last month and has been closely monitoring her condition.
Maxine Peacock became one of Coronation Street’s memorable characters during Shaw’s time on the cobbles
|
GETTY
However, the actress revealed in August that surgery is not currently an option, as her tumours need to reduce in size before an operation can be considered.
Following an ultrasound examination, she shared her disappointment that the treatment had not produced the results she had hoped for.
“I thought they’d shrunk, but basically they’ve gone from being circular to oval but not really shrunk in size,” she said.
A separate lump discovered on her right breast turned out to be benign cysts, which Ms Shaw described as positive news.
She expressed frustration at the gap between what her body had endured through chemotherapy and the limited visible progress.
“I think I’m just expecting some results of what I’ve felt, some results of what the body has had to go through too!” she said.
The ITV star first appeared on Coronation Street in 1995, joining the cast as Maxine, the close friend of Angela Griffin’s character Fiona Middleton.
Her character’s storylines included a betrayal of Fiona through a one-night stand with Steve McDonald, and a marriage to butcher Ashley Peacock, portrayed by Steven Arnold.
Ms Shaw has been sharing candid updates on her cancer journey with her Instagram followers | INSTAGRAM/TRACY SHAW
Maxine was ultimately killed off in dramatic fashion, bludgeoned with a crowbar by Richard after returning home from the pub.
A year after her Coronation Street debut, Ms Shaw was named Rear of the Year.
She also ventured into music in 1998, putting out two singles: Ridin’ High and a rendition of Lonnie Gordon’s Happenin’ All Over Again.
Since departing the cobbles, Ms Shaw has taken on smaller parts in ITV dramas but has primarily focused on theatre work.
Comments are closed.