Love Island star, 24, diagnosed with cancer after thinking the check up was 'so dramatic'

A former Love Island Australia contestant has shared a shocking health update, telling her followers 'I am 24 years old, and I have been diagnosed with cancer'.

Lexy Thornberry, who appeared on the third season of the show's down under iteration, shared the desperately sad news on Monday with a series of Instagram posts showing both her hospital treatment and attempts to maintain a normal life in the aftermath of her 'dramatic' diagnosis.

"No, sadly I’m not joking," the pilates instructor said as she revealed that doctors had identified cancer in her head and neck.

In one video post, she shared that she would be starting a course of chemotherapy treatment, while showing off how her long and glossy hair was 'the healthiest it's ever been', sadly remarking on how it is 'so pretty' but she never truly appreciated it before her diagnosis.

"Let's see how it survives," she said nervously.

In her Instagram post, the 2021 reality TV star shared her initial disbelief that anything could be seriously wrong, telling her 64,000 followers: "I couldn’t stop laughing that they put me in a robe for my X-ray - I thought it was so dramatic. A couple days later I was diagnosed with head & neck cancer."

Naturally, for health and fitness influencer Thornberry, the news has flipped her world on its head.

"I have always been a healthy person, and was an athlete my entire life. I’m a Pilates instructor and I teach people how to live healthy lives," she shared.

The star implied that she was sharing the cancer diagnosis after a few torturous weeks of hospital stays and consultations. She added: "There’s nothing I did wrong and nothing that could have prevented it. It’s just the luck of the draw."

Thornberry shared her health journey in 20 videos and pictures, granting some insight into how these past few weeks had transpired for herself and New Zealand boxer fiancee David Nyika.

Amid moments of levity in hospital gowns, something of the extreme stress and strain from the diagnosis is captured, with different images showing both Nyika and Thornberry bent double as they come to terms with their new situation.

But amid the sad head and neck cancer diagnosis, the couple appear to be pulling together, with a vow to not allow it to get in the way of their lives.

"The day I was diagnosed I made Dave swear that he would continue to fight and that this will not take over our lives together," Thornberry shared.

Indeed, the pair are hoping to continue with their marriage plans over the next 12 months, with one post showing a post-it declaring that they will be married in 2026, with the day and month of the nuptials strategically blanked out.

"I will beat cancer in 2026 and get married to Dave on X/X/2026," the note read.

The 24-year-old Love Island contestant declared to her followers that the cancer 'is something I will FIGHT', with Nyika promising to fight alongside her through her upcoming battle with the disease.

However, after sharing the development, Thornberry also had a plea for the public to give her some space.

She said: "I am starting treatment and ask people to respect my privacy during this extremely difficult time. This is all I’m willing to share at the moment and ask everybody to keep their questions to themselves."