Former Soap Star Alea O’Shea Undergoing Treatment for Brain Cancer at 25 as Friends Launch Supportive Fundraiser
Former Soap Star Alea O’Shea Undergoing Treatment for Brain Cancer at 25 as Friends Launch Supportive Fundraiser
Latoya GayleMon, March 30, 2026 at 11:26 AM UTC
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Alea O'Shea in June 2025Credit: Christopher Khoury/APA via ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock -
Alea O'Shea announced her brain cancer diagnosis on social media in November 2025
On Thursday, March 26, friends of the former Home and Away star launched a GoFundMe page to support her with medical expenses
"A number of essential cancer treatments, therapy and procedures are not covered by private health insurance, creating a significant and ongoing financial burden," the fundraiser's description states
A fundraiser has been launched as Alea O'Shea continues to undergo treatment for brain cancer.
The former Home and Away actress, 25, revealed her diagnosis to fans on social media in November 2025. Having then received a flood of messages from people offering to support her amid her battle with the disease, O’Shea eventually allowed her friends to launch a GoFundMe page on Thursday, March 26.
“Over the past months, Alea has been bravely facing brain cancer and the many treatments that come with it,” the fundraiser’s description reads. “Last week, she underwent another surgery as part of her ongoing fight."
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Alea O'SheaCredit: Alea O'Shea/Instagram
“While her courage has never wavered, the journey has been incredibly challenging for both Alea and her family,” the description continues. “Like many families navigating serious illness, they have discovered that a number of essential cancer treatments, therapy and procedures are not covered by private health insurance, creating a significant and ongoing financial burden.”
The description of the fundraiser states that O’Shea’s family has been doing everything possible to get the actress — who starred as Darcy Callahan in Home and Away between 2011 and 2014 and then again from 2016 to 2017 — the care that she needs.
The GoFundMe had received over $55,000 in donations towards its around $60,000 goal as of Monday, March 30.
Despite her own health concerns, O’Shea has been pouring her energy into supporting other women who are suffering from cancer. According to the fundraiser’s description, she has separately been raising money that will help them to “purchase high-quality wigs and feel good about themselves.”
“Her generosity of spirit in the midst of such a difficult time has moved so many of us,” the GoFundMe’s description reads. “Many people in our community have been asking how they can help. This page has been created to give friends, family, and the wider community a way to support Alea by helping ease the financial pressure of medical treatments and related expenses.”
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Alea O'SheaCredit: GoFundMe
O’Shea opened up about being diagnosed with brain cancer in a video shared on TikTok on Nov. 28, revealing that she had a biopsy on her birthday.
“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,” O’Shea shared in the video. “About six weeks ago, I noticed that my smile was a little uneven and it felt harder to talk, like get my words out."
“I had a few migraines, but nothing scary,” she continued. “Then, whilst I was recently in L.A., I lost feeling in two of my fingers, which then crept into my wrist and then my toe.”
O’Shea said she thought her symptoms were from a pinched nerve, but her physiotherapist advised her to get a brain scan.
Following her brain cancer diagnosis, she is now urging other people to seek out the “right professionals” and to advocate for themselves if they have any concerns about their health.
“I can still walk, I can still lift my arm,” she said. “Can I flip you off? No. Thumbs up, point? No. Or hold things? No, but the good news is where it is on my brain isn't gonna affect my personality, so I’m still going to be as hilarious.”
The actress revealed that her treatment in the coming months could leave her bald and paralyzed on the left side of her body. However, she vowed to continue sharing updates on her social media when possible.
“I’m genuinely so blessed to be so well supported, independent and able to keep doing what I love throughout this fight,” she said. “To everyone who follows me and has invested in my journey this far, regardless, thank you so much for being here and thank you for staying through this chapter.”
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
