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Belinda's cancer battle returns

TELEVISION favourite Belinda Emmett is facing a new battle with breast cancer.

The 27-year-old actor learned last week she had cancer again, three years after her successful fight against the disease.

Emmett, who stars in Channel 7's All Saints, had been filming a new Australian movie, The Nugget, in Mudgee, NSW.

A routine medical check-up revealed the new cancer.

"This is a very challenging time for Belinda, her friends and her family," said her manager Mark Morrissey yesterday.

Emmett, previously a star in Home and Away, has been going out with Channel 10's Rove McManus, host of Rove Live, for two years.

She will take a break from her role as Jodi Horner in All Saints to focus on beating the disease.

Emmett yesterday thanked all her fans for their continuing support and understanding of her need for privacy. "Belinda remains strong and positive during these times," Mr Morrissey said.

"She is presently finishing work on a feature film and is currently on-air in the Seven Network's drama All Saints.

"She will take a break from All Saints so she can concentrate on her recovery."

Emmett's brave decision to share her first fight with breast cancer is credited with dramatically raising the profile of the illness.

She was just 24, with no family history of the disease, when she was first diagnosed after finding a lump in her left breast. Emmett had surgery to remove the lump, which was successful.

Ever since she has continued working.

News of her relapse comes at a busy time for Emmett.

Her character on All Saints was slowly being phased out as she planned to travel overseas, leaving her job on Ward 17 to her younger brother, Matt, played by actor Josh Quang Tart.

Emmett had just finished filming director Bill Bennett's latest feature, a comedy called The Nugget, in which she plays alongside Eric Bana.

She was due to speak at a Cancer Council function in coming weeks, educating young women on the risks of cancer.

Seven management also rallied around the popular young actor, who has been nominated for TV Week Logies several times, including the Gold Logie in 1999.

"Belinda has been involved with Seven for over a decade," the network said. "She is a valued friend and has our total support."

Emmett was a talented singer with jazz bands before she began her TV career on the long-running sitcom Hey Dad.

She then shot to stardom on Home and Away, where she spent four years playing Rebecca Nash.

It was during her stint on the Seven soap that she faced her first battle against breast cancer.

After surgery and radiotherapy to remove the tumour in 1998, she was able to return to acting.

Breast cancer is the No.1 cause of cancer deaths in Australian women. Each year 10,000 women are diagnosed with the disease and 2600 die.

By SASHA BASKETT
October 04, 2001
Herald Sun