Former Home and Away star Alea O’Shea, 25, diagnosed with brain cancer after uneven smile and numbness
The former child star, who debuted on screen at 12, described the past six weeks as “crazy,” sharing how initial symptoms like an uneven smile, speech difficulties, migraines, and numbness led to a biopsy confirming the tumor on her birthday.
Symptoms and rapid diagnosis journey
O’Shea first noticed her smile becoming crooked and words harder to form, progressing to loss of feeling in two fingers, her wrist, and a toe. Dismissing it as a pinched nerve, she visited a physiotherapist who immediately ordered a brain scan, uncovering the mass.
A subsequent biopsy verified brain cancer, located in a region sparing her personality, “I’m still gonna be as hilarious and have the gift of the yap,” she joked in the video, demonstrating limited hand mobility by failing to flip off or thumbs-up the camera.
Alea O’Shea’s acting career highlights
O’Shea portrayed Darcy Callahan on Home and Away from 2011-2014 and 2016-2017, marking her breakthrough. She expanded to US TV with guest spots on Kung Fu, So Help Me Todd, and Sight Unseen, plus leading the Australian film Finally Me and indie feature Through the Door, per IMDb.
Post-soap opera, she pivoted to social media, building a creator career with quirky, relatable content: her TikTok bio reads “yes I AM this weird in real life!!”, featuring fashion edits, vlogs, makeup tutorials, Halloween inspo, and interactive OOTD polls.
Her social media amasses massive 123k TikTok followers (9.9M likes) and 154k Instagram audience.
Treatment plan
Upcoming surgery and further treatment await, with doctors warning of potential hair loss and left-side paralysis, though outcomes remain fluid, “we have to play it by ear.” O’Shea vows to document her journey one-handed if needed, emphasizing gratitude for support: “I’m genuinely so blessed to be so well supported, independent and able to keep doing what I love.” Fans and celebrities flooded her post with encouragement.
FAQs
What symptoms prompted O’Shea’s diagnosis?
Uneven smile, speech issues, migraines, and progressive numbness in fingers, wrist, and toe, leading to a physio-referred brain scan.
What are potential surgery side effects?
Hair loss and possible left-side paralysis, but she’ll monitor and share updates.
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