Beloved actress shares update from hospital bed amid stage 4 cancer battle!
Magda Szubanski, the beloved Australian actress known for decades of laughter, recently shared a poignant update from her hospital bed as she battles stage-four mantle cell lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer. At 64, she posted a video to Instagram, tubes and hospital gown visible, speaking directly to fans with gratitude and warmth despite the fatigue and challenges of chemotherapy.
In the video, she gave a special shout-out to Annabella, a ten-year-old fan from Adelaide who dressed as Sharon Strzelecki, Szubanski’s iconic character from Kath & Kim, for Book Week. “Thank you so much for your impression of Sharon Strzelecki. I’m in here having chemo and it really cheered me up. I’m really touched,” she said, smiling through exhaustion. Her caption was equally candid: “Chemo is smacking me around right now,” a blunt and real acknowledgment of the difficult journey she faces.
Szubanski first revealed her diagnosis in May after routine breast screening uncovered swollen lymph nodes, which led to further testing and the confirmation of stage-four mantle cell lymphoma. True to her character, she posted a video with her shaved head, showing both practicality and symbolic courage in confronting the illness head-on. From the beginning, she has acknowledged the strength of her medical team and the advancements in treatment, maintaining hope while being realistic about the challenges ahead.