Coronation Street star Beverley Callard has revealed her radiotherapy side effects have intensified since finishing her breast cancer treatment, describing the sudden quiet after weeks of constant medical support as “really strange.”
Beverley Callard has said the side effects of her radiotherapy are “getting worse,” despite having completed her course of treatment last week. The 69-year-old actress, best known for playing Rovers Return landlady Liz McDonald on Coronation Street, announced her breast cancer diagnosis earlier this year and completed a total of 10 radiotherapy sessions after a few setbacks along the way. In a new video posted to Instagram, Callard described finding it strange to adjust to daily life now that the constant medical contact that accompanied her treatment has suddenly stopped.
Callard’s diagnosis and treatment
Callard was diagnosed with grade 2 invasive ductal breast cancer after discovering a lump earlier this year. She underwent surgery to remove the tumour before beginning her course of radiotherapy. Doctors have since confirmed that the cancer had not spread to her lymph nodes, which has improved her overall prognosis. She has said she will continue to attend regular follow-up appointments and monitoring to check for any signs of the cancer returning.
Adjusting to life after treatment
Speaking in her Instagram video, Callard reflected on the sudden change since finishing radiotherapy. “Do you know what struck me? It’s so strange. I’ve now finished radiotherapy. When you’re going through it, everyone is on the phone to you all the time – nurses ringing you, then aftercare and everything. I finished last Thursday and suddenly – silence,” she said. “The side effects are getting worse, which I didn’t really expect. But it’s the silence more than anything, you’ve got all these people pampering you more than anything and then suddenly it stops. It’s really strange.”
Callard, who is also known for playing Flo Henshaw in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps and who recently relocated to Ireland with her husband Jon McEwan to star in the RTÉ soap Fair City, later described in more detail how unwell she had felt over the preceding weekend. “Well, what a weekend. I’ve finished radiotherapy for now, last Thursday. And in my naivety I thought ‘well that’s great’,” she said. “More often than not, I’ve done really well. Sometimes feeling a bit poorly and etcetera, but not too bad at all. This weekend, oh my god, I’ve felt dreadful. My skin on my chest and everywhere is now so sore.”
She went on to describe using various treatments to manage her symptoms: “I’m putting all sorts of things on. Aloe vera, loads of lotions and potions, and I’ve been so nauseous, and almost like morning sickness. I’ve only been sick a couple of times, but I feel dizzy, I feel worn out.” Reflecting on advice she had received from medical staff, she added: “To be honest, I’m in shock. It’s funny because a nurse did say to me ‘It’s not actually over. Really, it’s the beginning when you sort of finish your treatment’. So I understand what she meant now, and another lady said to me ‘Beverley, you’re still cooking’ and I understand that now as well. My skin is so hot, and it feels hot inside as well.”
Callard said she is doing her best to cope with the after-effects of treatment. “So I’m coping, and I’m trying hard, but I do have to rest a lot, so I’m going to research vitamins and health foods. I am eating healthily, although my appetite is gone. But yeah, I’m going to do lots of research. So anybody else going through it, just remember, don’t expect too much of yourself.”
Why symptoms often worsen after treatment ends
According to Breast Cancer Now, radiotherapy side effects often peak between seven and 14 days after treatment finishes, which explains why many patients feel worse in the aftermath of their sessions rather than during them. Common delayed side effects include fatigue, skin redness or peeling, tenderness, swelling and nausea, with most symptoms gradually easing over the following weeks.
Support from fans
Followers rushed to the comments section of Callard’s post to offer their support, with many saying they could relate to the disorientation she described following the end of treatment. Callard has thanked fans for their messages, saying that reading about other people’s experiences has helped her cope with her own recovery. She has also said she hopes that speaking openly about her diagnosis and treatment will encourage others to attend breast screening appointments and to seek medical advice promptly if they notice any unusual symptoms.
This is a sensitive health topic, and if you or someone you know has been affected by cancer, Breast Cancer Now offers support and information for anyone who may need it.
