Magda Szubanski announced she has stage four cancer. Then, she was told to apologise.

This week, beloved Australian comedian Magda Szubanski shared she is battling a "rare and fast-moving blood cancer".

The 64-year-old actor confirmed she had Stage 4 Mantle Cell Lymphoma in a post to Instagram on Thursday.

Her Instagram comments were immediately flooded with well-wishes and words of encouragement from supporters all over the world.

But quickly, things took a turn, as some people chose to take Szubanski's news as an opportunity to link her cancer diagnosis to her support of the COVID-19 vaccination.

"Person pushes vax ends up with turbo cancer what a surprise! Have another booster dear that'll fix it for sure," wrote one Instagram user.

Another called for her to "apologise for pushing the vax on others".

This targeted criticism has followed the comedian ever since she featured in a Victorian Government COVID-19 ad which urged the public to follow social distancing and mask health mandates.

On May 30, a day after announcing her cancer diagnosis, Szubanski addressed the trolls directly on X (formerly Twitter).

"Ok. Enough! Not the conversation I want to be having right now," she wrote.

She went on to say that her intention was never to push the COVID-19 vaccination on anyone, but rather encourage public safety.

"Let me be very very clear… I helped out as a good citizen to morale boost during COVID but I NEVAH EVAH was an 'avid supporter of vaccinations' and categorically DID NOT insist on them for others. Why? Because - I'm not a frickin doctor!!

This lie has gone beyond trolls and is now creeping into reports. I won't ignore incorrect information intended to warp the narrative and the truth."

Earlier this week, Szubanski said the cancer was picked up during a routine breast screen after doctors saw her lymph nodes were up.

Magda Szubanski breaks the news of her cancer diagnosis. Post continues after video.

The 64-year-old is now getting "world-class care" at a facility in Melbourne, and has started the "Nordic Protocol".

"I won't sugar-coat it: it's rough. But I'm hopeful. I'm being lovingly cared for by friends and family, my medical team is brilliant, and I've never felt more held by the people around me," Szubanski wrote.

"I'll be lying very low while my immune system takes a hammering, so if you see me out and about—don't hug me, kiss me, or breathe anywhere near me! Wave enthusiastically from a safe distance and know I love you madly.

"This is an obscure cancer and was only discovered incidentally via a breast screen where they found my lymph nodes were up.

"TBH, I've been feeling pretty rats**t for ages. So I asked for extra bloods and - voila! So the take away is — get tested and listen to your body!"

The Nordic Protocol is an intensive cancer treatment approach primarily used for the treatment of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), which is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It is also known as the Maxi-CHOP regimen, and consists of multiple treatment phases, including chemotherapy.

Magda rose to fame playing the character of Sharon Strzelecki in cult Aussie television series Kath and Kim.

Feature Image: Getty.