‘Turns out I’m not dead’: Beloved comedian Magda Szubanski gives update on cancer battle
The beloved Australian comedian and actor has given a funny and ‘fantastic’ update on her stage four cancer battle.
Beloved Australian comedian and actor Magda Szubanski has given a funny and “fantastic” update on her cancer battle, revealing she is now in remission.
Szubanski, 64, was diagnosed with stage four Mantle Cell Lymphoma in May last year and has been undergoing intense treatment ever since.
After first giving a shout out for the coming Mardi Gras weekend, on Friday she announced that she had completed chemotherapy and, while it was not a cure, she was hoping it would keep the cancer at bay.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“I wanted to share the fantastic news, which is that I’ve completed chemo and I am now in remission,” she said.
“So, phew, big relief. It’s not a cure but, because I got a good remission, that hopefully means that I’ll have, you know, keep the cancer at bay for a good long time.”
Mantle Cell Lymphoma is an aggressive, rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that is mainly caused by genetic mutations that happen over your lifetime. These mutations change how your B-lymphocytes function, according to the Leukaemia Foundation.
In her video message the Kath and Kim star also thanked her fans for their love and support.
“It was just like a tsunami coming at me and, honestly, I swear to God it helped me not only emotionally, I think it really helped me physically too.
“Also, eternal gratitude to my medical team. We have the most incredible medical people in this country, we’re so lucky and there’s not a day goes by that I don’t bless, give like profound thanks to the medical community, those beautiful people.”
Szubanski also showed the cancer battle had not dimmed her sense of humour, joking “It seems I’m not dead, although I’d better check with social media because that knows more about me than I do.”
“What else? got some hair back, turns out I’m not a natural blonde, although it does look like it may have previously belonged to Napoleon, but you know I’m fine with that”.
She concluded the video by letting fans know she can’t hug.
“This is on behalf of me and all people going through cancer: When you’re going through the chemo, you’re completely, you know immune annihilated and then even in the maintenance phase, which is where I am now, you’re still even now immunocompromised. So, you know, we’re not being precious, and I would love to hug you but I can’t because what is a sniffle for you could maybe kill, just saying.”
