Magda Szubanski Unveils New Memoir Following Cancer Remission
Australian comedy icon Magda Szubanski has announced she is working on a significant new project after recently revealing her cancer is in remission. The beloved Kath and Kim star, aged 64, is preparing to publish a deeply personal second memoir titled I Can't Tell You But I Will.
A Journey Through Grief and Activism
The forthcoming book promises to explore two profoundly transformative periods in Szubanski's life: coping with her mother Margaret's death in 2017 and her evolution into a prominent campaigner for marriage equality during Australia's same-sex marriage survey.
'2017 was the year I finally grew up,' Magda stated. 'My mother was dying, and I was catapulted into the forefront of a bitter cultural and political battle: the same-sex marriage survey.'
She described the memoir as 'the true tale of how I came to understand the unseen powers that shape our world, and learned how to stand up to them while staying true to your soul and to the people you speak for.'
A Eulogy for Her Mother
Szubanski emphasized that the book would serve as 'a eulogy' for her mother Margaret, who passed away at age 92. 'Most of all, though, it is a eulogy for my beloved mother, Margaret: like my Celtic ancestors, I am ‘keening’ her life, singing of the terrible beauty of caring for someone you love as they die,' she explained.
'This is the story of how I went from comedian to campaigner, from daughter to orphan, and from naïve idealist to pragmatic warrior,' she added, outlining the memoir's central narrative arc.
Publication Details and Previous Success
The memoir is scheduled for release on September 29, marking Szubanski's second venture into autobiographical writing. Her first memoir, Reckoning, published in 2015, focused on her childhood and her father Zbigniew's activities as a Polish spy during World War II.
Reckoning received widespread critical acclaim and won numerous awards, including the prestigious Book of the Year at the 2016 Australian Book Industry Awards, establishing Szubanski as a respected literary voice beyond her comedy career.
Health Update and Gratitude
The announcement follows Szubanski's emotional revelation last month that her cancer has gone into remission. 'I’ve completed chemo and I am now in remission. Phew!' she shared with fans.
She cautiously noted, '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.'
Szubanski expressed profound gratitude for the support she received during her health battle, stating it helped both physically and emotionally. 'And I also wanted to say a special, huge thank you to you for all the love and support that you’ve shown... So eternal gratitude, thank you so much for that,' she said.
Praise for Medical Community
In her announcement, Szubanski praised her medical team and Australia's healthcare system, calling it 'one of the best in the world.' '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 remarked.
Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
The comedian first revealed her diagnosis in May last year, announcing on social media that she was battling Mantle Cell Lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. She appeared on camera with a shaved head after beginning treatment.
'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 explained at the time.
Despite the seriousness of her diagnosis, she maintained optimism: '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.'
Szubanski detailed that she had begun a treatment called the Nordic protocol, which treats mantle cell lymphoma by shrinking tumors with a combination of drugs administered in five phases. 'It's pretty confronting. It is full-on. But new treatments keep coming down the pipeline all the time,' she noted, reflecting both the challenges and hopes of her medical journey.
