MICHELE King’s journey has reduced many to tears, but the Bendigo mother of three wants to bring a smile to those touched by her story.
After being diagnosed with stage four cancer on her 30th birthday in September last year, Michele and her family started the fight of their lives.
After falling ill in June, a series of tests revealed a tumour in Michele’s lungs.
Further scans revealed two more tumours and activity in a lymph node in her abdomen.
Three months later, a 3cm primary tumour in the bowel was detected but Michele had already progressed to stage four cancer.
The non-smoker and non-drinker was diagnosed on September 3, five days before her 30th birthday.
The prognosis was six months.
And with that anniversary falling next week, Michele wants Bendigo to know she is still fighting.
The latest scans show the tumours in Michele’s lungs are shrinking and the central tumour is no longer showing any metabolic activity.
“That was the one stopping any lung surgery ... so now we’re hopeful that will re-open the option of surgery,” she said.
Michele is undergoing regular chemotherapy and taking part in a drug trial which
involves taking medication that inhibits cancer cells.
While that also brings some side effects, including neuropathy, which means Michele cannot consume cold food or drinks or breath in cold air, she gains hope from each treatment knowing it is reducing the size of her tumours.
“The treatment is a trial treatment and it’s working ... we hope that continues,” she said.
“We’re going really well.
“I just want to say thanks for what everyone has done – financially, emotially and physically” she said.
“I don’t know how to say thank you.”