Aussie icon Magda Szubanski has announced she has been diagnosed with stage 4 Mantle Cell Lymphoma — a rare and fast-moving blood cancer.
In a video shared to her Instagram, the Kath & Kim star explained that her head has been shaved in anticipation of it falling out “in a couple of weeks” as she undergoes treatment.
She shared that she just found out about the diagnosis and that it’s “a very rare, very aggressive, very serious lymphoma”, describing it as “one of the nasty ones, unfortunately”.
“But the good thing is, I’m surrounded by beautiful friends and family and an incredible medical support team,” she assured her followers.
“Honestly, we have the best in the world here in Australia, particularly in Melbourne, so I feel very fortunate.”
The Aussie icon shared the heartbreaking news on social media. (Credit: Instagram / Magda Szubanski)
“It’s pretty confronting, it is a full on one,” she added.
“But new treatments keep coming down the pipeline all the time so I’ve just got to-” she added, before stopping to laugh and say: “What are you going to do?”
She then asked fans who might see her in public to “please keep your distance” as she will be “very immunocompromised”.
In the caption of the Reel, she wrote: “I won’t sugar-coat it: it’s rough. But I’m hopeful. I’m being lovingly cared for by friends and family, my medical team is brilliant, and I’ve never felt more held by the people around me.
“I’ll be lying very low while my immune system takes a hammering, so if you see me out and about — don’t hug me, kiss me, or breathe anywhere near me! Wave enthusiastically from a safe distance and know I love you madly.”
She added, “This is an obscure cancer and was only discovered incidentally via a breast screen where they found my lymph nodes were up. TBH, I’ve been feeling pretty ratshit for ages. So I asked for extra bloods and — voila!”
She ended by advising her followers to “get tested and listen to your body!” along with a classic Kath & Kim joke, writing: “For now, just know I’m in good hands, good spirits — but I reserve my ‘yuman right to be a cranky old moll. Love you all, Mags.”
Magda Szubanski is a beloved Australian actress best known for her role as Sharon Strzlecki in comedy series Kath & Kim. She’s also an LGBTQIA+ advocate, a famed comedian and has appeared in films such as Babe.
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