Abby Lee Miller shares gruesome picture of dozens in staples in her back after cancer diagnosis

Published: 00:02 BST, 28 April 2018 | Updated: 17:41 BST, 28 April 2018

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She had an emergency surgery last week after a cancer diagnosis.

And Dance Moms star Abby Lee Miller recently showed off some of the toll it has taken on her body.

The 51-year-old reality star, who was recently released from a Victorville, California prison, took to Instagram on Friday to share a gruesome photo of her back with dozens of staples on it.

She has recently been preliminary diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma—cancer of the lymph nodes.

Ouch: Abby Lee Miller took to Instagram on Friday to share a gruesome photo of her back with dozens of staples on it

Tough times: The star - pictured in LA last month - has recently been preliminary diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma—cancer of the lymph nodes

Despite the grisly nature of the snap, Abby seemed to be in good spirits as she posted it with the silly caption: 'This gives a whole new meaning to being stabbed in the back!'

Over the large wound could be seen a gloved hand doing the thumbs up whom Abby tagged as registered nurse Brianna Barbuto.

This comes just a week after she shared a selfie from her hospital bed after an emergency surgery.

'So much gratitude and love for those who listened, those who looked deeper, and those who leapt into action,' she said on Instagram in reference to her spinal surgery. 'So much more I wish I could say......about how quickly your life can change at the hands of others.'

Scary times: the 51-year-old Dance Moms star shared this selfie from a hospital bed last week after emergency surgery

Following Abby's operation, her doctor, Hooman M. Melamed, spoke with PEOPLE through a rep and confirmed that Miller is 'looking good' but 'she's not out of the woods yet.'

The Pittsburgh native, who was left paralyzed from the neck down on Tuesday, will undoubtedly need another spinal surgery.

'She has a lot more movement in her arms legs and toes, which is a very good sign,' Melamed said.

The nearly five-hour surgery required Dr. Melamed to make an 18-inch incision. The orthopedic surgeon then removed the back part of several vertebrae in order to relieve pressure from Miller's spinal cord.

Life threatening: Abby was recently released from a Victorville, California prison as she is pictured in LA earlier this month

An oncologist has been brought on Abby's case to determine next steps regarding chemotherapy and radiation.

'Depending on the tumor type, depending on the sensitivity of the tumor— it just depends the type but I feel more than yes, she will undergo chemotherapy or radiation,' Hooman said.

'We don't know where the source is,' he added. 'Any tumor that spreads anywhere is automatically Stage 4, but we have not determined the stage yet.'

It's been a difficult few years for Miller, who was in the custody of Victorville Federal Correctional Institution from July until late last month in connection to her bankruptcy fraud conviction.

She lost 100 pounds during her detainment at the penitentiary.

Last month, she began staying at a Long Beach halfway house, where she's tentatively slated to stay until May 25.