Tessa James has been diagnosed with cancer.

The former 'Home and Away' star, 23, is battling Hodgkin's lymphoma and has returned to the Gold Coast in Australia to be with her husband Nate Myles.

A statement released to the Daily Telegraph Australia, reads: ''Tessa will be will be undergoing chemotherapy over the next few months. Tessa and Nate would like to thank all for their well wishes and would ask for any privacy during this very difficult time.''

The couple, who tied the knot in 2011, had been splitting their time between Los Angeles and Australia prior to Tessa's diagnosis as she was hoping to carve out a career in Hollywood following her exit from the soap, in which she played Nicole Franklin, in 2011.

The blonde beauty is yet to personally comment on the illness and has remained silent on her social networking sites for the past month.

Meanwhile, actress Delta Goodrem, 29, who starred in 'Neighbours' also battled Hodgkin's lymphoma at the age of 18 and won her battle with the illness.

God that's awful news. She's so young I hope she pulls through

I don't know who she is, but that's never good. Hope she kicks its ass.