Actress Magda Szubanski recently shared a health update from her hospital bed as she undergoes treatment for stage-four cancer.
The 64-year-old, perhaps best known for her roles in Kath & Kim and the Babe films, posted an Instagram video this past weekend to thank a young fan for raising her spirits by dressing up for Book Week as fictional netball fan Sharon Strzelecki (the character Szubanski played in Kath and Kim.)
Szubanski, seen smiling as she lay in a hospital bed, said in the video: “This is a special shout-out to 10-year-old Annabella in Adelaide. Thank you so much for your impression of Sharon Strzelecki. I’m in here having chemo and it really cheered me up.”
“I’m in here having chemo and it really cheered me up. I’m really touched and that was a beautiful thing to do. Thank you my sweet. Lots of love to you.”
Accompanying the Instagram post was a caption that read: “Chemo is smacking me around right now.”
The Australian actress announced back in May that she had diagnosed with stage-four mantle cell lymphoma, an aggressive type of blood cancer. At the time, she uploaded a video showing off her shaven head “in anticipation of it all falling out in a couple of weeks”.
Szubanski revealed that the disease had been found “incidentally” after she underwent a breast screening that drew attention to the fact her lymph nodes were swollen.
“It is one of the nasty ones, unfortunately,” she said at the time, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. “The good thing is I’m surrounded by beautiful friends, family and an incredible medical support team. Honestly, we have the best in the world here in Australia, particularly in Melbourne. I feel very fortunate.”
“New treatments keep coming down the pipeline all the time,” the actress added.
In more recent updates concerning her ongoing battle, Szubanski sought to remind fans and followers that her immune system is weakened.
“Please keep a distance though because I will be very immunocompromised,” she said. “So I can’t hug no more. Don’t hug me, kiss me, or breathe anywhere near me! Wave enthusiastically from a safe distance and know I love you madly.”
We’re sending all our support in Magda’s direction. Get well soon!
