Aussie actress Kate Keltie diagnosed with ‘extremely aggressive’ Stage 4 breast cancer

Aussie actress Kate Keltie has been diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer.

The 36-year-old – best known for her role as Michelle Scully, the younger sister of Holly Valance’s character Felicity on Aussie soap Neighbours – will soon begin chemotherapy and has been advised by her oncologist to stop working during this time.

A crowdsourcing page has since been created by her friend, Ebony Gilbert, to help Keltie cover everyday living costs as she focuses on her health. 

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Aussie actress Kate Keltie diagnosed with 'extremely aggressive' Stage 4 breast cancer.

“[Keltie’s] cancer is extremely aggressive and it has spread to other parts of her body, including her nymph nodes, blood and hip bones (known as metastatic cancer),” Gilbert wrote on the page. 

“This week, the fight of her life begins as she starts chemotherapy. 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.”

Sadly, due to the diagnosis, Keltie is unable to have children in the future. 

“This is devastating news for anyone, let alone at the age of 36, with no family history of breast cancer,” Gilbert wrote.

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Aussie actress Kate Keltie played Michelle Scully on Neighbours.

Fans have rallied around Keltie, surpassing the $25,000 goal and so far raising more than $30,000.  

Neighbours alum Holly Valance, 39, now Holly Candy, is said to have offered her support to her former onscreen sister.

It’s believed the actress – who now lives in the UK and is married to billionaire businessman Nick Candy, 49 – donated $2000 to the fund. 

The gesture from fans and friends has touched Keltie, who posted on the page to thank fans for their generosity and support.

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Kate Keltie and Ryan Maloney at the TV Week Logies 2000 at the Crown Casino in Melbourne.

“I just wanted to say thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your support, and messages and phone calls. It’s so amazing to know I have so many incredible people in my corner,” she wrote.

“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. Kate x.”

Keltie starred on Neighbours for five years from 1999 to 2004. Since the show, she has appeared on Aussie TV shows such as Rush and Blue Heelers.

The star appeared to stop acting in 2008 and reportedly began a new career in recruitment.

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