Friends and family have confirmed that Neighbours star Kate Keltie has been diagnosed with an 'aggressive' form of Stage 4 Breast Cancer.
The actress, who played Michelle Scully on the Aussie soap opera for four years, has been told that the cancer has already spread to other parts of her body.
Kate, 36, has officially started chemotherapy, and will require chemo infusions 'every three weeks for the rest of her life', as well as possible radiotherapy and other surgeries.
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A fundraiser has been set up on Kate's behalf by her friend Ebony Gilbert, who explained that the severity of Kate's chemotherapy will mean keeping her job 'is not an option'.
It also means that she won't be able to carry children in the future.
A description of the fundraiser reads: "She was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer. Her cancer is extremely aggressive and it has spread to other parts of her body, including her lymph nodes, blood and hip bones (known as metastatic cancer)."
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It continues: "Given the severity of the chemotherapy that Kate requires, her Oncologist advised that working and maintaining her job during this time, is not an option.
"She will lose her gorgeous hair and cannot carry children in the future. This is devastating news for anyone, let alone at the age of 36, with no family history of breast cancer."
Insisting that 'independent' Kate would never ask for help, her friends are now hoping to raise money to help cover her living costs and 'try to remove the financial stress off Kate's plate', for the time being.
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Kate's fundraiser has a target of $25,000 (£13,800) to cover rent, groceries, bills, medical appointments, a regular cleaner a wig, and specialist skin products, to keep her going for the next six months.
Already, the fundraiser has exceeded its target and hit $31,395 (£17,421).
In an update posted by Kate herself last week, the actor thanked everyone for all of their support so far.
"It's so amazing to know I have so many incredible people in my corner", she wrote.
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"I've just got over COVID and I start my first round of chemotherapy tomorrow, and you really have no idea how my head space has changed going into it because of each and every one of you."
Before she joined the cast of Neighbours, Kate appeared as a child in shows like Blue Heelers, Full Frontal, and Thunderstone.
At age 13, she was cast in the iconic soap opera as Michell Scully, and acted in the show from 1999 to 2003.
Topics: Celebrity
Ali Condon