Neighbours star Kate Keltie has been diagnosed with stage four breast cancer.
The 36-year-old actress played Michelle Scully, the younger sister of Holly Valance’s character Felicity, on the Australian soap for five years from 1999 to 2004.
The Scully family (L-R): Keltie, Janet Andrewartha, Shane Connor, Holly Valance and Carla Bonner
A Go Fund Me page set up to help support her, says she has recently begun treatment, but that her cancer has already spread to other parts of her body.
It says: “Our beautiful Kate is going through the unimaginable.
“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).
“This week the fight of her life begins as she starts chemotherapy.”
The page, which has raised over $31,000 Australian dollars (£17,000) in just 10 days, goes on: “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.”
It says the money being raised will be used to help Keltie remain at home during her treatment, as well as towards specialist medical appointments, a wig and specialist skin products.
Keltie posted a touching message to her supporters, saying: “It’s so amazing to know I have so many incredible people in my corner.
“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. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”
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As well as Neighbours, Keltie also appeared in Australian children’s TV series Thunderstone and police drama Blue Heelers.
She retired from acting in 2008 and went on to work as a legal consultant before joining a recruitment firm.