A former Neighbours actress has shared an "incredible" update in her fight against stage four cancer. Kate Keltie, who played Michelle Scully on the Aussie soap between 1999 and 2004, was diagnosed with breast cancer in November.
The actress, who portrayed the sister of Holly Vallance's character Felicity and Carla Bonner's Steph, was aged just 36. It was reported that Kate's cancer had spread to several parts of her body.
Writing on a gofundme page set up to support her through her treatment, organiser Ebony Gilbert wrote at the time: "Our beautiful Kate is going through the unimaginable. She was recently diagnosed with stage four 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).
"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. Kate will then require chemo infusions every three weeks for the rest of her life, and potentially radiotherapy and surgery too."
However, Kate has now updated supporters on the gofundme page with "incredible news".
Kate said: "I want to share some incredible news. I recently received results of my latest scan and was told that there had been a complete metabolic response to diseased areas.... In other words, it seems I am cancer-free.
"The last six months have been the most challenging time I have ever experienced to say the least. The diagnosis completely turned my world upside down and it's something I hope to never go through again.
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"I couldn't have done it without each and every one of you. Your support played a huge part in my navigating this horrible time. It will forever be something I remember and am truly grateful for. I also want to thank the amazing team at Peter Mac in Melbourne, and my beautiful family and friends. You are incredible.
"The nature of my cancer having travelled through the blood stream, means that I will receive monthly infusions indefinitely, with no side effects. Surgery is also off the table at this point. Life begins again.
"I will continue to be a proud ambassador for the Mothers Day Classic. And I am very much looking forward to raising funds at my benefit for the National Breast Cancer Foundation on March 31. Tickets are available through EventBrite if you are local and would like to be a part the evening. (little plug there ;)) I will continue to support the community however I can moving forward, because I know how it feels to get the help you need, when you need it the most."
