Australian comedian Magda Szubanski has announced she is in remission from stage-four mantle cell lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer. The news, shared on Instagram Friday, comes approximately nine months after her initial diagnosis.
“I wanted to share the fantastic news, which is I’ve completed chemo and I am now in remission – so phew, big relief,” Szubanski posted. She clarified that while remission isn’t a cure, it offers hope for a prolonged period of managing the cancer.
Szubanski, widely recognized for her portrayal of Sharon Strzelecki in the popular Australian sitcom Kath & Kim, expressed gratitude to her medical team and the public for their support. Images accompanying her announcement showed her with newly regrown hair, a visible sign of recovery after shaving her head in preparation for chemotherapy treatment in May.
Beyond Kath & Kim, Szubanski’s career spans decades, beginning with appearances in university revues in the mid-1980s and including roles in the sketch comedy shows Quick Forward and Big Girl’s Blouse, alongside Gina Riley and Jane Turner. She has as well appeared in films such as Babe and Happy Feet.
The announcement coincided with the annual Sydney Mardi Gras celebrations. Szubanski, a vocal advocate for LGBTQI rights and appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2018 for her contributions to the marriage equality campaign, expressed regret at being unable to attend the event. She announced that the Glitter Club, a premium viewing area for the Mardi Gras parade, had been rebranded “Magda’s Glitter Club” in her honor.
“I am so gutted I can’t be there. I’m afraid it’s unavoidable, but have a wonderful time and big love to you all,” she said in her post.
