Coronation Street's Tracy Shaw says first chemo 'wiped' her in emotional update

Former Coronation Street star Tracy Shaw has shared an emotional video with followers as she continues her gruelling cancer battle. She revealed she's finding things tough after undergoing her first round of cancer treatment. The actress, 52, who's most famous for playing Maxine Peacock in the ITV soap, told fans she was fighting breast cancer last month. In her latest Instagram update, she openly admitted that her initial chemotherapy injection had completely "wiped" her out.

In the footage, she explained: "So yesterday I had my first injection of chemo. It's one which affects my heart, so I have to have my heart checked on a regular basis for scans ." With her hair cut short ahead of the treatment taking full effect, she went on: "It really wiped me, I don't know if it's because I had to go back into hospital and it's so hot in there. Why doesn't the government just look after the guys at the NHS a little bit more and invest a bit more into our hospitals. "I'm feeling the effects today, I've taken my first injection to help my immune system.

Basically from tomorrow I can't really socialise." She added: "My immune system will be really low, and the other thing is temperatures." But determined to push on in her battle against the illness, she told supporters: "My body is now going to war with that thing in me which doesn't belong in here." The Mirror reported she included a caption which stated: "Thank you for all your love and support. Extremely long update unfortunately, but I'm struggling to reply to everyone individually, grab a cuppa and a biscuit or scroll if you'd like. "Sending all my love to everyone on the same journey with chemo and cancer in general. I promised I'd keep it real." Tracy played Maxine from 1995 until 2003, when programme chiefs opted to axe her character during a dramatic confrontation with serial killer Richard Hillman.

At the time, viewers were heartbroken by Tracy's departure. Following her exit from the programme, she featured in various different series including Casualty and Doctors. More recently, she secured a part in the musical drama Finding My Voice last year. Back in April, she disclosed her cancer diagnosis.

She shared a video on social media, explaining: "I have come on just to explain a situation that is happening in my life. I have been diagnosed with breast cancer. "I have to have chemo for five months, then hopefully surgery to have lumps removed and take the nymph glands out. Thank you for messaging me to check how I am because I haven't been present." For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters .