My Cancer Journey – Finding Strength and Support

“My story started in early 2023 when my abdomen slowly began filling with fluid. At first, I didn’t realise what was happening. I’d just had a tooth pulled and was on antibiotics, so I thought maybe it was just my body reacting. But the swelling kept getting worse and my breathing was laboured.

Before long, I looked eight months pregnant. Walking from one side of the room to the door felt like running a marathon. My husband insisted I see a doctor, and my boss did too– I’m a hairdresser and I didn’t want to let my boss or my clients down, but my I finally agreed, and booked the appointment.

Blood tests led to hours in the hospital. Late that night, the doctor told me, “Because of your age and your test results, we’re going to start at cancer and work our way back.” When you hear the word “cancer,” it’s like the TV ads – everything muffled, everything a blur.

The next week I was referred to Chris O’Brien Lifehouse in Sydney. I didn’t have private health insurance and worried about costs and waiting times, but they got me in quickly and even helped with travel and accommodation through IPTAAS. During that first hospital stay, they drained 10 litres of fluid and later performed a full hysterectomy and drained another 6 litres of fluid. My ovaries were severely enlarged (the size of an orange) and leaking fluid. The diagnosis: stage 4 advanced uterine cancer.

My best friend had passed away from stage 4 bowel cancer just the year earlier, so hearing those words was devastating. Doctors told me I had two to five years. I’ve just passed the two-year mark.

Since then, my journey has been a rollercoaster – multiple surgeries, a colostomy bag, and two major rounds of chemotherapy. I’ve spent long stretches in hospital, first in Sydney and later at Dubbo Hospital. I’m now on lifelong surveillance with blood tests and scans every three months. The fear before each test never really goes away, but I try to stay hopeful.

Cancer has changed my life in so many ways. I haven’t been able to work much – I started back just an hour a week answering the phone, and now I’m up to about four hours. My body fatigues easily. I have a 3kg lifting weight limit because of my stoma, so even simple things like hanging out the washing are too much. Through it all, my husband has been my rock – moving our bedroom around, helping me shower and eat, driving me to appointments, and taking care of everything without a single complaint.

And Can Assist has made a difference. Asking for help was hard – I always thought there must be people worse off than me. But thanks to Dubbo Can Assist, we’ve had food on the table, petrol to get to appointments, and even help with our electricity bill. That support has taken such a weight off our shoulders and allowed us to focus on my health rather than just survival.

As I write this, I have hair again this winter – after losing it for two years in a row. I’m working a little more, spending time with my husband and our dogs, and taking each day as it comes. Having faith in God has helped tremendously.

To everyone at Can Assist: Happy 70th birthday and thank you for helping families like ours. Your generosity and care have meant the world.”

Ethel – Dubbo