I was diagnosed with stage 1 uterine cancer, in particular, an endometrioid carcinoma, after I had excessive bleeding. However, I think I had symptoms of copious, clear fluid leading up to the diagnosis for possibly 18 months, but it was cyclic… like I was ovulating. I didn’t recognize the symptoms then because they had actually been going on for years, and because the doctors had been dismissive, I was too. I also had not been through menopause, and I thought the symptoms were hormonal. I had always had heavy bleeding, and it had been investigated on and off over the years. So I just put up with it. Someone had said that your last period was the worst, so during each bleed, I thought, “This is it. I'm done.” But I wasn't. We were trapped in Western Australia, working, and couldn't get out due to COVID. I didn't have a doctor and didn't have any way to get to mine in Central Victoria, and I’m also a bit phobic. When we finally left in 2022, I thought, “If this keeps going past my 60th birthday, I'll go back to the doctor.” We went to Norfolk Island for my birthday, and a few days before we left, which was one day before my 60th, I began to bleed. I always carried Primolut (a progesterone) that had been prescribed to me earlier in life, and so I took it.

Three days later, we headed home (with COVID, as it turned out) and by the time we got to Tullamarine, I was haemorrhaging. We drove to Bendigo and to the motel where we were going to isolate. By the time we got there, I was bleeding out of control. My husband drove me to the casualty at midnight, but he couldn't come in as he had COVID. I hadn't tested positive at this stage. I was bleeding through the hand towels from the motels. They spent the next four hours trying to control the bleeding, and finally, around sunrise, I was stable but wrung out. They conducted an ultrasound, made appointments for me, and sent me home with an antiviral, as I had tested positive for COVID as well. Two weeks later, in December, I went for an appointment at the Women's Centre in Bendigo, and they spoke about the possibility of cancer, but given my history, they said that it could be hormonal.

When I was first diagnosed, I was terrified and also didn’t want to tell anyone until I knew more. I became obsessive about walking and was a bit teary. I am very phobic, so this challenged me on a very deep level.

I have completed treatment, and I was declared cancer-free in 2025.

On the 4th of January, I had a dilation and curettage (D&C), and they took biopsies and put a Mirena in to stop my bleeding. On the 18th of January, I attended the clinic to be told I had endometrial cancer and that they were sending me to Mercy Hospital in Melbourne. However, the Mirena would put the cancer into stasis. On the 24th of February, I met my team at the Mercy Hospital, and they told me that everything looked very straightforward and that the Mirena was doing its job. On the 18th of April, I had a complete hysterectomy, and after a very stressful two weeks, I found out that the cancer was stage 1A and required no further treatment, only regular follow-up. Next January will be my last follow-up if I’m symptom-free.

I decided on my treatment plan based on the doctors’ recommendations. I placed myself completely in their hands, and they were so wonderful. I felt sooo safe. After deciding on my treatment plan, I felt optimistic because in the end, I felt brave, and I felt like I could do this!!!

As for financing treatment, my treatment is subsidized, and I am covering the rest of the treatment costs myself. I couldn’t work, and there was no provision to compensate me, so money got very tight, and we went through a lot of our savings.

The most severe side effect I experienced was being thrown straight into menopause. I couldn’t regulate my body temperature, which was vacillating between too cold and too hot. I was also very teary. I managed these side effects by increasing the frequency at which I exercise and by improving my nutrition. I began walking like mad, and I really chose to eat properly.

Since being diagnosed, I have been facing challenges in my professional life. I am very tired. I am working on overcoming these challenges by resting as much as I can. I have had to return to work to re-save for retirement, and I’m too old for this shit (I’m a teacher).

For me, the most challenging aspects of being a cancer survivor are the

• emotional and psychological impact
• changes in body image or appearance
• financial or employment challenges
• fear of recurrence.

I am not sure that I have coped with the challenges. I just keep going because I have to. I have such amazing support from my husband, kids, and family.

Over the next two years, my future plans involve retirement. I want to leave teaching, travel and be a grandmother.

Throughout my cancer journey, I dealt with the fear of

• the cancer returning
• not surviving or dying
• undergoing treatment
• the impact on my family or relationships.

I worked to overcome these fears by

• seeking support from family and friends
• engaging in mindfulness and relaxation techniques
• focusing on physical recovery and staying active
• engaging in spiritual or religious practices
• focusing on positive thinking and gratitude.

Today, I feel fearful but optimistic. I’m more worried about cancer now than I was before, but I’m also being more proactive; I’m doing bowel and breast scans, but I really stress about the potential results… like, really stress. I am not sure why my fear has become worse, but I am terrified of getting it again.

If I had to give practical advice to other cancer patients, I’d say hang in there and keep a diary. Walk like mad. Through this journey, I found out that I am stronger than I thought I was.

I want people to know that life after cancer gets better. You just need to trust your team and listen to them. For me, I didn’t need to know everything, so we had an agreement that the doctors would only tell me more about what I asked about, and I didn’t ask about everything. Because once you hear, you cannot unhear, so I was very happy to be oblivious… it worked for me. To those currently on their cancer journey, I’d say only ask the questions that you genuinely want to know the answers to. Sometimes, it is better not to know because then you do not worry unnecessarily. Trust your medical team because they genuinely care about you.