Disease battler remains positive after triple bout of cancer

The Mullalyup resident has been hit with three cases of cancer over the past four years.

Despite this, the 60 year old maintains a positive mindset.

In May 2012, her general practitioner diagnosed her with advanced ovarian cancer after a routine check-up.

Ovarian cancer is a disease where some of the cells in one or both ovaries start to grown abnormally and develop into cancer.

Later that month, Noeline had major surgery within two weeks of the diagnosis and commenced chemotherapy four weeks later, which lasted 18 weeks.

In November that same year, she got the all-clear.

She successfully endured the treatment and was given a remission status after 12 months.

Noeline endured a cancer-free period for about four months before she was diagnosed with lymphoma and commenced a form of chemotherapy again.

Her body did not respond well as she fell sick and came close to not recovering on two occasions.

"That's where I started to develop a realisation of how much you have to look after yourself when you've got cancer,” Noeline said.

The lymphoma has settled, but is yet to be cleared.

Around April of this year, it was discovered that Noeline's ovarian cancer had re-occurred.

It was a case of deja vu as she completed another 18 weeks of treatment on her own, which ended earlier this month.

Her husband Graeme said she did not complain and refused to accept defeat or negativity.

“Her story may inspire other cancer patients in our area that all is not lost,” he said.

Noeline said she could not be referred to as a “cancer survivor” because a survivor needed to be clear of cancer for five years after remission.

"So through the three lots of cancer – or the two that I've been through – I have never made 'being a survivor',” she said.

"I haven't made that cancer survivor status. A lot of people don't.

Noeline said ovarian cancer had always been considered “a bit of a death sentence”.

“I think [medical professionals] have made some good progress with it."

While she has not been cleared of the lymphoma, it is being monitored every week during blood tests.

"Basically you've still got cancer until they've said 'there is no cancer there', you've still got that perception that it'll just flare up again,” Noeline said.

"There's a woman I've met that's been going in there for 27 years and she is now having her seventh ovarian cancer re-occurring.”

She explained that one of the hardest parts of the experience was not knowing what was going to happen next.

"I'm not going to let cancer ruin my life – it's just got to fit in with me."

A doctor in St John of God Bunbury Hospital instructed Noeline to keep her distance from other people, as her body was vulnerable to infections from a lack of white blood cells.

She has to keep everyone at arm's length, which sadly includes loved ones.

A pet hate of her's is seeing people shave their heads for the cause, saying it is "very degrading" for her and fellow cancer sufferers.

Noeline’s advice to those who have been diagnosed with cancer is to fully place themselves in the hands of the medical professionals.

"Don't try any home remedies while you're on your plan. Just do what they say. If you want to do something, ask your oncologist,” she said.

"I never did anything outside of what they gave me to do, and I survived.

"If you do exactly what they tell you to do – that's your best chance of survival.

"Look after yourself, that's the thing."

Noeline plans to offer something that would make cancer suffers in Western Australia feel a little better as they go through their treatment.

If you or someone you know needs support with coping with cancer, call the Cancer Council on 13 11 20 from anywhere in WA for confidential cancer-related information and support.