Magda Szubanski has revealed the devastating reality of living with a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
In her first interview since announcing her Mantle Cell Lymphoma diagnosis last year, the Australian actress became emotional as she discussed what she described as an “incurable relapse” of the disease.
“So, it’s almost sure that it will come back. It’s a question of ‘when’ and then ‘how bad’,” the 65-year-old told 60 Minutes host Tracy Grimshaw on Sunday.
Szubanski said she was “pitching for more” time, but acknowledged that she could have as little as eight years before the illness proves fatal.
“The median survival rate is eight-and-a-half years. So, I could go less, or I could go more,” she said.
The comedian likened the uncertainty to living with the “sword of Damocles over her head”, saying she is acutely aware that her time may eventually run out.
Magda Szubanski has revealed the devastating reality of battling a rare form of cancer. She is pictured during an appearance on 60 Minutes on Sunday.
“For those of us who, you know, it hangs by only a couple of strands, it’s a very different feeling,” she said.
“It is just a different state of consciousness. It’s a different awareness of death. It’s not abstract.”
The Babe star compared the physical and emotional toll of chemotherapy to being caught in a “multi-car pile-up”.
“I’m not being a Pollyanna about this because I think that’s not fair to people to do that,” she said.
“It was freaking hard, but when I say it was doable, it was. My results put me in good stead, but it can change.”
Szubanski said doctors discovered the cancer after she endured a prolonged period of feeling unwell, accompanied by frightening nightmares.
“I knew something was wrong. I just felt so unwell,” she said.
“It would wake me up in the middle of the night, literally wake up with a dream voice saying ‘you’re dying, you’re dying’.”
In her first interview since announcing her Mantle Cell Lymphoma diagnosis last year, the Australian actress became emotional while discussing what she calls an “incurable relapse” of cancer.
“So, it was like, dude, there’s something wrong here. You know, there’s something really wrong.”
Magda announced in February that her cancer had entered remission.
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“I’ve completed chemo and I am now in remission. Phew!” she said at the time.
“It’s not a cure, but if I’ve got a good remission, hopefully that will mean I’ll be able to keep the cancer at bay for a good long time.”
‘And I also wanted to say a special, huge thank you to you for all the love and support that you’ve shown.’
Telling fans that she felt loved and supported during her health crisis, Magda said that it helped physically as well as emotionally.
‘So eternal gratitude, thank you so much for that,’ she added.
Elsewhere in the clip, Magda praised her own health team and Australia’s medical community, calling it ‘one of the best in the world.’
In May last year, Magda announced on social media that she was battling a rare form of cancer known as Mantle Cell Lymphoma
Szubanski said that while she was ‘pitching for more’ time, she may be facing just eight years before the cancer claims her life
‘There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t give profound thanks to the medical community… 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,’ she said.
In May last year, Magda announced on social media that she was battling a rare form of cancer known as Mantle Cell Lymphoma.
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. The good thing is I’m surrounded by beautiful friends, family and an incredible medical support team.
‘Honestly, we have the best in the world here in Australia, particularly in Melbourne. I feel very fortunate.
‘It’s pretty confronting. It is full-on. But new treatments keep coming down the pipeline all the time.’
Szubanski said she had started a treatment called the Nordic protocol, which treats mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) by shrinking the tumours with a combination of drugs administered in five phases.