Abbey was only 18 when she got her diagnosis
08 November 2021
At 18 years old, most of us have the same typical worries: Where do I want to go for uni? What do I want to study? When am I going to see my friends next? What do I want my career to be?
For Abbey, it was much the same.
Like many 18 year olds, Abbey's main focus at the time was playing the sports she loved - volleyball and netball - and finishing her double diploma in sports management.
Unfortunately, her world was turned upside down upon hearing the words, “You have cancer.”
Never in a million years did I think I'd be diagnosed with cancer, let alone so young.
- Abbey
Today, we’re thrilled to share that Abbey is still very much the same vibrantly upbeat, energetic and spirited person as she was prior to her diagnosis, and we’re very excited to be able to share her journey with you.
When speaking with Abbey and her family, we talked about their experiences with her cancer, how Abbey managed to stay so positive throughout everything, and her journey from cancer patient to cancer-fighting fundraiser!
Discovering cancer
When Abbey first discovered the small lumps in her neck and armpit, at the time, she didn’t think it was anything more than tonsillitis or a head cold. Never in a million years did she consider that it could possibly be cancer.
The doctor gave me a round of antibiotics and said the lump should be gone in about a week.
- Abbey
Abbey during her initial rounds of chemotherapy.
It wasn’t until her doctors began talking about getting a biopsy that Abbey and her family began considering the possibility of cancer.
We definitely didn't mention cancer, but around the five of us, everyone was thinking it. It was very frightening but no one wanted to say those words out loud in case it might potentially be that. I think once we knew, we could get on and deal with it, but that unknowing was quite frightening.
- Kate, Abbey's mum
Unfortunately, Abbey’s biopsy would soon confirm a diagnosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Overnight, her world changed. Abbey would need to undergo months of cancer treatment, and her recovery would take a huge toll on her. It meant losing her hair, giving up her coveted spot in a sports management program that she’d worked incredibly hard to secure, and feeling so unwell that she’d barely be able to get out of bed.
Thankfully, being the resilient and upbeat young woman that she is, she was determined to stay as positive as possible.
Abbey with her sisters
Staying positive in the face of cancer
Within a few days of her initial diagnosis, Abbey soon faced another issue that she never thought she’d ever have to consider at her young age.
One of the side effects of her treatment was the possibility of losing her fertility. To safeguard her chances of being a mother in the future, she would have to undergo IVF and freeze her eggs prior to undergoing her treatment.
It wasn’t until that point that she realised just how much her cancer diagnosis would change her life going forward.
Like any other person facing cancer, Abbey’s diagnosis turned her world upside down, and she soon found herself feeling overwhelmed and frightened.
But as frightening as it was, Abbey was determined to stay positive and to continue to look on the bright side of every situation as it came.
Abbey and her family
Abbey’s chemotherapy treatment would prove to be a challenge.
Along with losing her hair, Abbey also experienced other common side effects, such as fatigue, nausea, and pain in her legs. As you can imagine, the following months were challenging for Abbey, to say the least. There were days where she felt anxious and frustrated, days she felt overwhelmed, and times where she cried.
But in spite of it all, she was also determined to be brave, and to focus on the bright side wherever she could.
I tried my hardest to sort of, find the positives. I would be feeling horrible in bed, but I'd be saying to myself at least I get to be in my own bed and I'm not in a hospital bed and stuff like that.
- Abbey
Abbey and her parents, Kate and Greg
As heartbreaking as it was for Abbey’s parents, Kate and Greg, to watch their precious daughter face cancer, it’s also very clear how proud they are of her:
I’ve said the whole time, no one else in this family would be able to tackle it the way that Abbey did. I would have been a wreck. The only person who could have done this with such grace and determination is Abbey.
- Kate, Abbey's mum
Unite to Fight Cancer
From 15-24 October 2021, more than 3,300 people came together with sweat and determination to raise funds for cancer research through Unite to Fight Cancer.
Over those ten days, they walked 60km or cycled 200km wherever they were in Australia and gathered supporters on a mission to help discover new cures for cancer.
Abbey and her family unite to fight cancer together!
Among the thousands of people stepping out against cancer was Abbey's family, raising just over $18,000 together!
We were very fortunate to have a healthy and happy girl with us. We were thrilled to have family join us this year too. It was great to have their support and a larger fundraising pool!
For Greg and I, it did feel like we were doing something for Abbey, and then we were just so proud to have raised so much money for research as a whole. Greg and I would love to continue it and Abbey will probably join us in some way next year.
- Kate, Abbey's mum
Thanks to everyone’s amazing effort during Unite to Fight Cancer – and the 22,000 people who donated – over $1.8 million was raised for vital cancer research at Peter Mac.
What’s next for Abbey?
Abbey will need to continue having regular tests and check-ups over the next five years to monitor her health, but it appears that Abbey’s cancer is successfully in remission.
For now, Abbey’s excited to be able to plan for the future again. She’s looking forward to travelling overseas and visiting family in Scotland, to going back to university, and she’s already back on the court playing volleyball and netball.
On the topic of school, Abbey is considering making a change from her sports management course to something more in line with her recent experiences at Peter Mac.
I've just had a bit of a change of heart and I would love to give back in some way. I've kind of got this part of me now that just wants to be able to work with sick kids in the future.
And I think, as a sick kid myself, as much as everyone that I've met was so lovely and so supportive and understanding, it was always talking to people who had gone through similar things that helped the most. I'd love to be able to be that person to kids who are going through cancer in the future.
- Abbey
However, there’s always a small, niggling fear in the back of her mind that her cancer might return one day - something she reckons she’ll have to deal with for the rest of her life. Despite their effectiveness, chemotherapy and radiotherapy can leave patients with a risk of long-term complications from their cancer.
But, with her radiant optimism never failing to shine through, Abbey says she’s determined to focus on the present, and remains hopeful about the potential for a cure in the future.
It definitely gives me some peace of mind just knowing that they're doing everything that they can be doing, to offer the best help and treatment and stuff like that. I guess it's a positive knowing that, hopefully, one day there'll be some incredible breakthrough that can treat everything.
- Abbey
Thank you for your messages of support
You may remember that we shared Abbey's story with some supporters last year and her hope for a cancer research breakthrough.
Ever since then, we've received an outpouring of support for Abbey and her family, who are extremely grateful for all your kindness.
Read Abbey's beautiful letter to Peter Mac supporters below:
"Thank you so much for supporting Peter Mac.
From someone who has gone through cancer myself, it’s so reassuring to know that supporters like you are willing to donate to research and make a positive difference for people like me.
Maybe you are going through cancer yourself, or other people you care about might be.
I’m just very appreciative of people like you who support cancer research that helps develop treatments like mine so we can defeat cancer.
Thank you,
- Abbey
Your kind support gives us all hope for discovering more life-saving cures for cancers like Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
