Former Home And Away actress Alea O’Shea has revealed she’s been diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of 25, delivering the emotional news in a heartfelt video shared across her social media platforms.
In a video that’s already racked up more than 235,000 views on TikTok, O’Shea opened up about the moment she received the life-changing diagnosis - on her birthday - following a biopsy.
“This is a video I obviously thought I’d never have to make, but I’ve recently been diagnosed with brain cancer,” she said. “Saying that like, a hook, is insane. It’s been a crazy few weeks.”
Subtle symptoms led to serious diagnosis
Now a social media star, O’Shea explained she had been in “limbo” waiting on medical results but was finally ready to go public and keep fans in the loop.
“I’m choosing to be open and honest about this online, because I want to live my life as normally as possible while I’m fighting this,” she shared.
Best known for her role as Darcy Callahan on Home And Away from 2011 to 2014 and again between 2016 and 2017, O’Shea described how the first signs that something was wrong began just six weeks ago. At first, the symptoms were minor - and easy to overlook.
“I noticed that my smile was a little uneven, and it felt harder to talk [and] get my words out,” she said. “I had a few migraines, but nothing scary.”
But during a work trip to Los Angeles, the situation worsened dramatically.
“While I was in Los Angeles, I lost feeling in two of my fingers, which then crept into my wrist and then my toe,” she explained. Initially believing it was a pinched nerve, she saw her physiotherapist, who immediately raised the alarm.
“He immediately realised it was beyond his scope and sent me to get a brain scan. And that’s how we found it,” she recalled.
Staying strong through treatment and uncertainty
Despite the diagnosis, O’Shea is keeping her spirits up, even as the cancer has already affected the left side of her body.
“I can still walk, I can still lift my arm,” she said, demonstrating her movement. “[But] can I flip you off? No. Thumbs up? No. Or hold things? No.”
Still, she remains optimistic about her future and how the tumour's location won’t impact who she is.
“But the good news is, where it is on my brain isn’t going to affect my personality. I’m still going to be as hilarious, and have the gift of the gab.”
O’Shea is set to undergo surgery in the coming months, and doctors have warned that the procedure may lead to hair loss and potential paralysis on her left side. But she’s not backing down.
“In the coming months, I might be doing videos one handed. I might disappear when I need to, but mostly, I’m going to be showing up as me every single day that I can,” she promised.
The actress also took a moment to thank her growing fanbase for their continued support.
“To everyone who follows me and has been invested in my journey thus far, regardless, thank you so much for being here. And thank you for staying through this chapter,” she said.
Although the diagnosis is now part of her reality, O’Shea is determined it won’t define her.
“It’s just another part of my story,” she concluded. “And if it can bring some perspective, comfort, or positivity to other people out there going through it, whilst helping me get through it, that’s all I could ever want.”