Kellie Finlayson Shares Health Update Amid Stage 4 Cancer Battle

CRANBURY, N.J. — Kellie Finlayson, 28, has returned home from the hospital as she provides an emotional update on her ongoing battle with stage 4 cancer. Finlayson, wife of AFL star Jeremy Finlayson, recently shared a video showing her recovery after undergoing surgery to treat metastatic cancer.

The footage, posted Monday, contrasted her current appearance with a clip from a week prior, where she was seen in a hospital bed. In the new video, Kellie, wearing blue jeans and a purple bra, lifted her shirt to reveal small incision scars, clearly demonstrating her progress.

“Just over a week ago, I was having a VATS wedge resection on my right lung to remove mets and send off tissue to pathology in hopes for more answers and better treatment plans,” she wrote on social media. VATS, or Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery, is a minimally invasive procedure aimed at diagnosing and treating lung conditions.

Kellie was originally diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer at 25, a condition that carries a grim 14% survival rate. The cancer later metastasized to her lungs following an initial treatment period where she opted for traditional chemotherapy and radiation. Despite the challenges, she continues to remain hopeful.

In July 2024, Kellie confirmed that she would need to resume chemotherapy after taking a break to pursue alternative treatments, which in part sparked outrage from her followers on social media. Users expressed concerns about the dangers of foregoing conventional cancer treatments in favor of unproven therapies available overseas.

“If I had never-ending money, I’d go for sure,” she replied to one suggestion that she consider alternative treatments in Mexico or India. This comment led to a strong backlash from cancer survivors, some of whom felt compelled to share their experiences of successful treatment.

Among the responses, one survivor emphasized, “These suggestions are honestly hard to read. Good intentions, I’m sure,” while another stressed the importance of conventional therapies that saved her son’s life. Finlayson noted in response to these comments that she has witnessed the efficacy of Australian cancer treatments, acknowledging they incorporate global scientific research.

Kellie has been transparent about her health challenges and maintains a positive outlook, especially given the major surgery she underwent. “I’ve had so many people checking in to see how I’m doing, thank you! Honestly, I’m so fine,” she stated appreciatively. “But hey, I’ll take the wins when I can get them in this never-ending experience.”

As she navigates her health struggles, Kellie also celebrated a personal milestone, marking her two-year wedding anniversary with Jeremy last week. Their family recently sold their Adelaide home for $915,000 to adjust to her needs for in-home care and medical equipment. She expressed a desire to manage her illness in a way that allows her to be present for her daughter Sophia’s 21st birthday.