'That’s life.' 20 years ago, Delta Goodrem was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma at 18 years old.

In 2003, Delta Goodrem was 18 years old when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer that affects part of the immune system.

At the time, the Australian singer was riding high on the success of her breakout album Innocent Eyes. She had a string of number one singles 'Born To Try', 'Lost Without You', and 'Innocent Eyes' dominating the local charts, along with charting across Europe and New Zealand. 

A few months before her diagnosis, Goodrem won 'Most Popular New Talent' at the 2003 Logie Awards for her role in Neighbours as Nina Tucker. 

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Delta Goodrem was a rising star, unlike anything Australia had seen in decades. But after finding out she had cancer, the singer's career took a backseat while she focused on her health. 

"I wasn’t able to travel and enjoy the music that had broken around the world," she told the Daily Telegraph in 2003. 

"Anybody that has gone through it or supported someone going through cancer, they know that nothing else matters, even if you are number one on the charts around the world, it doesn’t matter... you are in a totally new chapter." 

Later that year at the 2003 ARIA Awards, Darren Hayes dedicated a cover of 'Lost Without You' to the singer.

Watch some of the performance here. Post continues after video.

With hindsight, the touching performance looked like an in-memoriam. 

In December 2003, Delta announced that her Hodgkin lymphoma had gone into remission. 

20 years on, Delta is reflecting on the moment she was first diagnosed.

The singer posted on Instagram on Saturday a montage of photos and videos from that time. "July 8, 2003. Twenty years ago today," Delta wrote. 

"I remember that day so clearly and all the mixed emotions that came with the news of being diagnosed with cancer while my album had been sitting at #1 for three months prior and the third single hit #1 same day."

Read Delta's full message here. Article continues after post.

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A post shared by Delta Goodrem AM (@deltagoodrem)

She continued, "One split second and all the plans had changed. That’s life. There is meaning and beauty in facing these challenges from a different viewpoint. There must be a reason this is happening," she said.

"Today marks a beautiful full circle moment in my life when it feels like a brand new chapter starts here." Delta teased new music, along with opening up about the London gala she's planning for the Delta Goodrem Foundation, a charity the 'Mistaken Identity' singer launched in 2020 to raise funds for cancer research. 

The former The Voice judge is about to embark on a European tour which kicks off in August. Twenty years after releasing Innocent Eyes, this is the first time Delta's tour has reached this end of the globe.  

To quote one of my favourite (and sorely underrated) Delta songs, she's sitting on top of the world. 

Feature image: Instagram/@deltagoodrem + Getty.

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