Former Coronation Street star Tracy Shaw has shared a heartfelt health update as she continues her cancer treatment.
The actress, best known for her role as Maxine Peacock on the ITV soap, posted on Instagram on August 20, revealing that she had just undergone her fifth round of chemotherapy.
The 53-year-old told fans she was 'over the moon' to find out her heart was 'fine' and her organs were 'okay' but she was struggling with her fifth bout of shingles.
Tracy said no medication was helping to fully clear up the shingles and from the chemotherapy treatment her immune system was 'lower than low'.
Other side effects the singer said she was struggling with was her hands swelling, her nails falling off and splitting and the skin under her feet was 'shedding' and 'peeling'.
She says these were all side effects of her cancer treatment and she is taking it 'one day at a time' to work through these struggles.
Tracy Shaw gives health update amid cancer diagnosis
Best known for starring as Maxine Peacock in the ITV soap, Tracy said the side effects mean her treatment team will have to discuss the next steps in her chemo plan.
In their next meeting, the oncologist team will decide whether she will undergo the 'full whack' of her sixth round of chemotherapy or not.
They will also discuss whether her surgery to have her tumours removed will need to be postponed or not.
Tracy claims her immune system will drop again due to the chemotherapy treatment she is receiving and admits she is finding it harder to share updates online.
But despite what she's going through with her cancer battle, she says she is determined to 'remain positive' with a smile on her face.
In the post, Tracy said: "So, I met my oncologist yesterday and I had chemo five today and I just want to share how wonderful it is going for the chemo and meeting other people on this journey, men and women fighting different cancers and sharing that common bond of what we are going through.
"So, the news about my personal journey with where we are at is that it is taking its toll on my body.
"My heart is fine which I'm over the moon about, thank you God.
"The organs are okay but my body because I am about to come into the fifth bout of shingles with no break, and no matter what medication I take, even though it assists in drying the ones that are present up, more come out.
"So, it's been consistent wearing on my nerve endings basically.
"My nails are coming off and splitting, my hands swell, and my skin on the underneath of my feet is all shredding and peeling on the heels.
"It's just one of the side effects really that are concerning the oncologist before surgery.
"The team will be discussing again to contemplate whether they give me the full whack of chemo six.
"It may postpone my surgery which none of us want, because the body is not going to be well enough to fight it and shingles is a nerve ending and a warning sign for my body."
Tracy was diagnosed with the disease in April this year and has continued to keep fans updated on social media as she goes through her cancer journey.
Following her recent chemotherapy, she says she is trying to 'work with her body' and is sleeping a lot more.
Tracy says she will be able to give listeners another update in three weeks' time when she meets with her team again to discuss her upcoming surgery.
Tracy said: "The immune system, which is what the chemo has been doing, is lower than low and it's about to go even lower.
"I am finding it a little bit harder to share as much about it because I am determined to remain positive with a smile but from about day seven onwards, it is quite difficult and my body is wanting to sleep a lot.
"I am eating and resting and sleeping and trying to work with my body while I go through this next phase.
"So, for now I am just going to be taking one day at a time, one symptom, one side effect at a time.
"I don't particularly enjoy this period, but I am going with it and I am flowing, waiting to hear about my appointment for the surgery which you know I am really looking forward to having the tumours removed and then heading back to the chemo room.
"I have still got to have a chemo injection into my leg which hurts so that will continue whether or not I have the other two chemos as well and the sixth, we will wait and see.
"But I will keep you posted in three weeks' time when I meet the team again."
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