'Phew': Comedian Magda Szubanski says cancer is in remission
The iconic Australian comedian says the support she received was like a "tsunami" and believes it helped her cope.
Australian comedian Magda Szubanski, best known for her acting roles in Babe and Kath & Kim, says she is in remission.
In May last year, the 64-year-old said she had been diagnosed with stage 4 blood cancer, a "very rare, very aggressive, very serious lymphoma".
With a career spanning more than 20 years, Szubanski achieved international acclaim for her role as Esme Hoggett in the film Babe.
She took to Instagram today to share her news.
Magda Szubanski / Instagram
She also played the netball-loving character of Sharon Strzelecki in popular Australian sitcom Kath & Kim.
Earlier on Friday, Szubanski took to social media to say she had completed chemotherapy and is now in remission.
"Phew," she said in a video.
Szubanski said it was a "big relief" and while not cured, she hoped it meant her cancer would be kept at bay for a "good, long time".
The comedian thanked her followers for their love and support, saying it had felt like a "tsunami" coming at her, and she believed it had helped her not only emotionally, but physically as well.
"Also, eternal gratitude to my medical team … There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t give profound thanks to the medical community, those beautiful people, and also to the common sense of the Australian people that we see how practical and compassionate it is to have a really good medical system.
"Ours is really one of the best in the world, including the First World countries.”
Jokingly, Szubanski said it would see "I'm not dead" but said she would have to check with social media.
She also pointed to her head, saying some hair had grown back and she didn't appear to be a "natural blonde".
Szubanski ended her video saying as much as she would like to hug people, she remained immunocompromised and it could make her very sick to do so.
