Corrie star Tracy Shaw says she wants to share 'moments of joy' in emotional post rather than focusing on the 'pain and suffering' of her cancer treatment

By CHARLOTTE DEAN, ASSOCIATE SHOWBIZ EDITOR Published: 23:27, 4 August 2026 | Updated: 23:37, 4 August 2026 Tracy Shaw has shared an emotional update on her cancer treatment as she described the 'pain and suffering' she has been feeling. However, rather than dwelling on the gruelling treatment, the former Coronation Street star said she had instead chosen to share the 'moments of joy'. This included photos of Tracy, 53, with her face bathed in sunlight as she watched a series of sunsets and sunrises from outside her home. Her selection of photos also included pictures of her dogs as well as flowers in her garden, as she attempted to bring some light relief to the ordeal. Tracy, who has just had her fourth round of chemotherapy, said that she is focusing on 'spiritual growth' by focusing on the good in her life.  The Coronation Street actress was diagnosed with the disease in April after finding a lump in her breast and has been in treatment since.  Tracy Shaw has shared an emotional update on her cancer treatment as she described the 'pain and suffering' she has been feeling. However, rather than dwelling on the gruelling treatment, the former Coronation Street star said she had instead chosen to share the 'moments of joy' 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. '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.' '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.' In another positive post recently, Tracy said that she's 'never been as grateful to be alive on a birthday' as she turned 53 and shared sweet family snaps. For her birthday this week she was joined by her brother Karl and son Luca, 19, as they all posed in beaming snaps together on Instagram. She penned in her post: '53,& grateful. Visit from my brother #mrshaw, karl shaw. Luca just back from Truck festival, preparing for next weekends festival. 'Thankyou # _lisa_ Dawson for the the most amazing gifts, from a breast cancer survivor who just knows what to buy. Never been as grateful to be alive on a birthday. 'Looking forward to next years celebration.' 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 devastating update to Instagram last Thursday. Tracy shared the video after going for an ultrasound to check on her current condition, sharing her hopes that chemotherapy would have shrunk the lumps. This included photos of Tracy, 53, with her face bathed in sunlight as she watched a series of sunsets and sunrises from outside her home Her selection of photos also included pictures of her dogs as well as flowers in her garden, as she attempted to bring some light relief to the ordeal Tracy Shaw sad that she's 'never been as grateful to be alive on a birthday' as she turned 53 on Monday and shared sweet family snaps For her birthday this week she was joined by her brother Karl and son Luca, 19, as they all posed in beaming snaps together on Instagram However, during the teary clip, Tracy explained that while the lumps have changed shape from round to oval, they haven't 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… erm…' Tracy continued: '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!' In May, Tracy broke down in tears in an emotional video as she revealed to her followers she was set to begin chemotherapy. Tracy was diagnosed with the disease the month before and shared in her video that she would be starting chemotherapy the following week. She penned in her post: 'Never been as grateful to be alive on a birthday. Looking forward to next years celebration' Just last week Tracy fought back tears as she revealed her breast cancer is currently inoperable until her tumours shrink in size  Tracy is best known for playing Coronation Street character Maxine Peacock In a video posted on Instagram, Tracy shared the toll her cancer diagnosis has had on her, admitting 'I can't go through this anymore.'   She previously played Maxine Peacock on Corrie from 1995 to 2003, before she was sensationally murdered by serial killer Richard Hillman. In the video, Tracy 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… 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. '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 her post, Tracy revealed she'd been told she would start her 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'd had much of her hair cut off to prepare herself for one of chemotherapy's most common side effects, hair loss. Tracy played her character Maxine from 1995 as the friend of Fiona Middleton, played by Angela Griffin. Her character went on to betray her friend by having a one-night stand with Fiona's boyfriend, Steve McDonald. Tracy was awarded the Rear of Year title a year after making her debut on the show. Maxine married butcher Ashley Peacock, played by Steven Arnold. She also had a child with the local doctor, despite being married to Ashley. Maxine died when she was viciously murdered by Richard. She was hit by a crowbar after she returned home from the pub. Tracy also launched a pop career in 1998 and released two singles: Ridin' High and a cover of Lonnie Gordon's Happenin' All Over Again. After she left the soap, she played smaller roles in ITV dramas. She has spent most of her time in the theatre.