Argus Editor reflects on cancer journey on Biggest Morning Tea day

Today the official Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea date will see locals enjoy a cuppa for a cause in support of people impacted by cancer, including myself.

In August, readers may remember I shared a devastating stage 3 bowel cancer diagnosis, and have spent the past seven months undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment.

One Australian is diagnosed with cancer every four minutes – the length of an average tea break.

One in two Australians will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85, and 31 new cases are detected in South Australia every day.

It still feels surreal to be a part of these statistics.

One month before my 30th birthday, I received a phone call that would change my life, and it has certainly been a painful and exhausting journey ever since.

Being younger, my doctors hit me with the maximum dosage possible, and I experienced horrific side effects.

The worst was definitely touch sensitivity, and I would often need to wear gloves to avoid the pain of touching anything too cold. I called it my electric fingers.

To this day, I have a metal taste in my mouth, a permanent numbing sensation in my fingers, and my feet swell up when I’ve been on them for too long.

During treatment, I’ve done my best to edit The Argus around hospital appointments.

I found that by focusing on work, it kept me distracted by the uncontrollable situation, but I had my down days.

At times, my mental health did take a hit, and I value the importance of staying connected to personal support networks, talking about the ‘black dog’, and understanding that it is okay to not be okay.

My supportive partner, family, colleagues and friends picked me up when needed, and I am truly forever grateful to them.

My experience has exposed further the need for better oncology care in the Hills, and I am hopeful the SA Labor party will deliver on promises for a new Mount Barker hospital as pledged in the lead up to the State Election.

Having to commute an hour and a half every day for six weeks to receive radiotherapy was certainly challenging, and I was lucky to have someone available to drive me to appointments.

I hate to consider what it would be like for people without family here to support them, especially with the lack of transport available to Adelaide from Strathalbyn and districts.

It’s hard to describe the emotions I’ve experienced upon the final review of my case: fear, guilt, and enormous relief… fear that my cancer will return, guilt for those who were unable to survive, and the enormous relief that I am now cancer-free.

Thank you to those who have shared this journey with me.

Campaigns like those hosted today not only raise funds for life-saving research, but encourage conversations on awareness that may lead to prevention.

I’ve said it before, and I will say it again, you are never too busy to put your health first, to listen to your body, to trust your gut, and to get a second opinion.

For anyone who may be on a similar journey, who has lost a loved one, or who has received a recent diagnosis, my door is always open.

My number is 0435 031 908 if you would like to reach out to me.

Having cancer has changed my perspective on life, on what is truly important and what really isn’t.

To my fellow survivors, our strength is something that does deserve to be celebrated.

And today, for me, it starts with a celebratory cuppa tea.