Magda Szubanski receives outpouring of support from A-list stars after revealing her shock cancer diagnosis: 'Right there with you darling'

Daily Mail​

4 days ago

Magda Szubanski has been inundated with messages of love and support from her A-list friends after announced her stage 4 cancer diagnosis 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 uploaded to Instagram on Thursday.
Some of the biggest names in Australian film and television have now flooded the comments of the clip in a show of overwhelming support for the star.
'Right there with you darling xx,' New Zealand actor and Jurassic Park star Sam Neill wrote.
'Oh babe. F***. You've got this. Yelling at you now from a distance that we all love you,' wrote radio host Carrie Bickmore who runs the Beanies 4 Brain Cancer charity.
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'Lots of love and support to you beautiful one,' media personality Rove McManus commented.
MasterChef star Poh Ling Yeow wrote: 'You look beautiful as a Goog my love. And the Mutley laugh has me thinking you're going to be good at this.
'We're right behind you. Love u and see you soon.'
Today Extra co-host Sylvia Jeffreys said: 'All the hugs and all the love to you, Magda. Keep those chuckles up. We are all with you (from a safe distance). X.'
Her co-star David Campbell added: 'I love you so bloody much.'
Former A Current Affair host Tracy Grimshaw said: 'I'm so sorry to hear this Magda, but this cancer has no idea what it's taken on does it?
'You come from strong, odds-defying stock and you'll beat this. Much love x.'
Sunrise star Edwina Bartholomew noted: 'Sending hugs virtually and all the love.'
'I love you so much Magda. Massive hugs being sent to you and so many more in person to come,' Aussie actor and singer Hugh Sheridan commented.
'Sending you all the love in the world and warm, immuno-safe virtual hugs,' former Australian of the Year Grace Tame wrote.
Former Big Brother star Reggie Bird added: 'Oh @magda_szubanski sending you lots of love and all the best with the treatment and healing.'
Australian actress Teresa Palmer said: 'Oh Mags, I'm so sorry to hear this s*** news, you're such an inspiration to so many of us, an icon for the ages.
'Hope you can feel all the strength being sent your way from our crew and everyone who loves you.'
'Magda, I am so incredibly sorry to hear this. Love and strength to you,' former Bachelor star Alex Nation penned.
Podcaster Toni Lodge said: 'Magda sending you so much love.'
Comedian Pete Helliar wrote: 'Sending you all my love Mags!!!!! You (and we) know how strong you are!!'
Model Megan Gale said: 'Sending an abundance of love, hugs and strength your way Magda.'
'Sending you lots of love. Thanks for being your wonderful, strong self xxx,' Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young commented.
'Sending all the love I can your way! Xxx,' said comedian Reuben Kaye.
Kenny star Shane Jacobson simply left a string of red love-heart emojis beneath the shocking announcement, alongside messages of support from many more stars.
Magda appeared on camera with a shaved head after beginning her treatment to fight cancer.
'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.
'Honestly, we have the best in the world here in Australia, particularly in Melbourne, so I feel very fortunate.
What is mantle cell lymphoma?
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that causes white blood cells to grow and multiply uncontrollably.
The average age at diagnosis is 60 to 65 years and is two to three times more common in men than women.
The initial symptom of MCL is usually a painless swelling in the neck, armpit, and/or groin.
It is usually treated with combination chemotherapy, but other therapies include radioimmunotherapy, radiotherapy and stem cell transplants.
It is aggressive and often comes back after patients go into remission.
'It's pretty confronting. It is 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.
'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,' she said.
'Please keep a distance though because I will be very immunocompromised. 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.'
The Kath & Kim star said the cancer was discovered during a routine breast screening.
'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*** 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 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 trying.'
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***ing 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."'
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.