By Gemma Grant
On Thursday, beloved Australian actor Magda Szubanski announced that she has stage-four cancer.
The 64-year-old, known for her performances in Kath and Kim and sketch show Fast Forward, also revealed she was starting “one of the best treatments available” – the Nordic Protocol.
Here’s what we know about it.
Magda Szubanski has announced an Instagram post today that she has “stage four mantle cell lymphoma – a rare and fast-moving blood cancer”. Credit: Instagram
What is the Nordic Protocol?
The Nordic Protocol is a type of chemoimmunotherapy treatment. It combines chemotherapy (which aims to destroy cancer cells) with a targeted immunotherapy aimed at B cells — cells that make antibodies. The three part treatment aims to prevent recurrence of the cancer and hopefully cure the disease.
According to the NSW Cancer Institute, the treatment is suitable for patients under 65 with previously untreated mantle cell lymphoma. Also known as the Nordic Regimen, its name comes from a major trial that happened at the Danish-based Nordic Lymphoma Group.
What is mantle cell lymphoma?
Mantle cell lymphoma is a rare type of B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It is a cancer of the lymphatic system – part of the immune system which produces immune cells and protects the body from viruses and bacteria.
According to Lymphoma Australia, diagnosing mantle cell lymphoma can be difficult, and can take a few weeks to confirm through various tests.
The most common first sign of mantle cell lymphoma is painless swellings around the neck, arm or groin areas. Other symptoms include intense night sweats, unexplained weight loss and fevers.
What is the prognosis for Szubanski’s diagnosis?
For the majority of people with mantle cell lymphoma, the cancer is considered aggressive and treatment starts immediately.
First rounds of treatment are often successful at putting the lymphoma into remission, but it is frequent for the lymphoma to return after a short period.
What has Szubanski said about it?
In an Instagram video posted on Thursday afternoon, Szubanski announced the diagnosis to her almost 290,000 followers.
“I have just been diagnosed with a very rare, very aggressive, very serious lymphoma. It is one of the nasty ones, unfortunately,” Szubanski said.
“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.”
An earlier version of this article had some inaccuracies in its description of chemoimmunotherapy. It has been updated to better reflect current medical information.
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