Former Home and Away star Alea O'Shea has bravely detailed the severe physical impact of her ongoing fight against brain cancer, revealing a recent procedure has left her with paralysis on her left side.
A Sudden Diagnosis and Rapid Treatment
The 25-year-old actress, diagnosed just two months ago, has already endured brain surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. In a candid update to her followers, O'Shea shared that her latest round of treatment resulted in a complete loss of movement on the left side of her body, including paralysis in her left arm.
O'Shea first noticed symptoms about six weeks prior when her smile became uneven and she struggled to articulate words clearly. The sensation loss then progressed from two fingers to her wrist and then to a toe. Initially believing it was a pinched nerve, a physiotherapist urgently referred her for a brain scan, which led to the shocking discovery of a tumour. A biopsy on her birthday confirmed the devastating diagnosis.
Navigating Life as a Content Creator Amid Treatment
Despite the immense challenges, O'Shea told Confidential she is taking things "day by day." She explained, "I'm just really riding the waves, which is all you can do." Her career as a content creator has provided a crucial sense of stability and purpose during this period.
"It's allowed me to work to my energy levels, listen to my body, and still maintain a strong sense of purpose," she said. O'Shea has documented her journey openly, including sharing videos of her hair loss, and vows to continue connecting with her audience as much as possible, even if it means posting one-handed videos in the coming months.
Maintaining Humour and Gratitude
Known for her role as Darcy Callahan on the iconic Australian soap between 2011 and 2014, and again in 2016-2017, O'Shea has faced her diagnosis with remarkable resilience and humour. She joked about the paralysis affecting her left hand, stating, "Can I flip you off? No. Thumbs up? No. Or hold things? No."
She added a positive note, revealing, "But the good news is, where it is in my brain isn't going to affect my personality. I'm still going to be as hilarious and have the gift of the yap." Doctors had warned her prior to surgery about the potential for hair loss and left-side paralysis.
O'Shea expressed profound gratitude for the support system around her, stating she feels "genuinely so blessed" to be independent and able to continue doing what she loves. She thanked her followers for their unwavering support throughout her fight, acknowledging the strength she draws from their investment in her journey.
