Stephen’s Story

“I thought I was done with chemo. But here I am again.” 

After more than two decades as a lifeguard at the heated pool in Gunnedah, Stephen Steele was looking forward to a quiet retirement. Spending time with his wife Debbie and his family. 

But life had other plans. In May 2022, what started as a routine treatment for an ulcer became something far more serious. “I was still having symptoms — I’d eat, and then I’d just spew it up,” Stephen recalls. A CT scan revealed a tumour near his pancreas. Things moved quickly from there. 

He was sent to Tamworth Hospital on a Friday. By Sunday, he was flown by CareFlight to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle. “They were going to operate straight away,” Stephen says, “but I’d been exposed to COVID in Tamworth, so they had to wait.” 

When surgery did go ahead, it was a major operation — a Whipple procedure, the most complex surgery performed at John Hunter, with two surgeons operating. They took out a third of his stomach. Stephen was meant to stay in hospital for 10 days but ended stayed in Newcastle for three months recovering. 

Once Stephen returned home to Gunnedah, he began chemotherapy in Tamworth: once a week for three weeks, then a week off — for six months. On top of that, he was taking eight chemo tablets a day. “The skin came off my feet and fingers,” he says. “It was brutal.” 

But he pushed through. After finishing treatment, Stephen went back to work for a time, then finally retired. A PET scan in Newcastle in 2024 showed he was clear. Three months later, a CT scan confirmed it. “Then I had a blood test — and the markers were up.” 

Further tests showed the cancer had returned. This time, it was in his lungs. Chemo started again in August 2024 — and is still ongoing. But despite it all, he’s in good spirits. “I’m off to chemo next week, but I’m OK to talk about it.” 

Facing long travel, rising costs and relentless treatment, Can Assist stepped in.
The Gunnedah branch helped Stephen with new tyres for his car, fuel vouchers, food vouchers, and support with pharmaceutical bills. So far Stephen has had to travel 11,000kms for cancer treatment and care. 

“It’s a great organisation. Even if you’re managing now, you might not be later. So take the help when you can,” he says. 

Stephen’s wife Debbie was so thankful to Can Assist for their support that she has now joined Can Assist and will help with fundraising. “I want to give back to such an amazing cause”. And to spend time with Stephen.