Magda Szubanski has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer at the age of 64.
The Australian comedian announced she is battling Mantle Cell Lymphoma – a rare and fast-moving blood cancer – in a video on Thursday.
She appeared on camera with a shaved head after beginning her treatment to fight the disease.
‘Hello my lovelies. So, the head is shaved in anticipation of it all falling out in a couple of weeks because I have just been diagnosed with a very rare, very aggressive, very serious lymphoma,’ she began.
‘It is 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.
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Magda Szubanski has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer aged 64. The Australian comedian announced she is battling Mantle Cell Lymphoma – a rare and fast-moving blood cancer – in a heartbreaking video on Thursday
‘Honestly, we have the best in the world here in Australia, particularly in Melbourne, so I feel very fortunate.
‘It’s pretty confronting. It is a full on. But new treatments keep coming down the pipeline all the time.’
Magda said she has started a treatment called the Nordic protocol, which treats Mantle Cell Lymphoma by shrinking the tumours with a combination of drugs administered in five phases.
It’s known as the Nordic regimen based upon its clinical trial sites in Denmark and Norway.
The actress explained she will be ‘lying very low’ due to her weak immune system.
‘Please keep a distance though because I will be very immunocompromised. So I can’t hug no more,’ she said.
‘Don’t hug me, kiss me, or breathe anywhere near me! Wave enthusiastically from a safe distance and know I love you madly.’
The Kath & Kim star said the cancer was discovered during a routine breast screening.
Magda said she has started a treatment called the Nordic protocol, which treats Mantle Cell Lymphoma by shrinking the tumours with a combination of drugs administered in five phases
‘This is an obscure cancer and was only discovered incidentally via a breast screen where they found my lymph nodes were up,’ she explained.
‘TBH, I’ve been feeling pretty rats**t for ages. So I asked for extra bloods and – voila! So, the take away is – get tested and listen to your body!
‘For now, just know I’m in good hands, good spirits – but I reserve my human right to be a cranky old moll. Love you all, Mags.’
In recent years, the comedian has battled health issues but in late 2023 revealed she is no longer pre-diabetic.
At the time, the actress took to Instagram to share a health update, alongside a picture of her very decadent breakfast.
‘My latest breakfast invention… scrambled eggs with truffle oil on top of some lightly fried cauliflower with a sprinkle of vegan Parmesan salt and pepper YUMMM,’ she wrote.
She then revealed the result of her latest blood tests.
‘Have got my Hba1c (blood test) out of pre-diabetes and back in the normal range,’ she added. ‘I’m far from perfect but I just keep tryin.’
In 2022, Magda looked visibly distressed as she opened up about her battle with emotional eating on the ABC’s Big National Health Check.
She fought back tears while interviewing weight management expert Dr Lucy Burns, who spoke of how some people resort to binge-eating to cope with their emotional demons.
‘I think, really, that sense of sort of being able to forgive myself,’ she said tearfully.
‘Because I know people are like, “Why has she done that to herself?” And I felt I had no choice.
‘It was the only sane decision I could make, given the alternatives that I faced,’ she continued.
‘And then you become this, like, f**king shame magnet.’
Magda went on: ‘And it’s like you’re not supposed to fight back. You are not allowed to defend yourself.
‘You’re supposed to just hang your head again in shame and say, “I’ve brought this on myself.”‘
In recent years, the comedian has battled health issues but in late 2023 revealed she is no longer pre-diabetic
Magda had earlier listed her various health woes in an interview with TV Week magazine, and said she wondered if there were others with similar problems.
‘There are times in my life I’ve been absolutely blighted by illness,’ she said.
‘Osteoarthritis, migraines, anxiety – I also suffer from sleep apnoea,’ the actress explained at the time.
‘And that leads me to ask, “Am I the only one who feels like this? Are other people feeling the same way? Do they have the same challenges?”‘ she added.
