Lara woman diagnosed with cancer after falling over

Tripping over some rocks on a weekend away led to Lara’s Kym Walker being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.

Lara's Kym Walker has terminal cancer. Picture: Alison Wynd

Tripping over some rocks on a weekend away led to Lara’s Kym Walker being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.

The 64-year-old was in Apollo Bay with husband Peter and some friends in 2021 when she broke her back.

A scan picked up spots on her liver, which led to a stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis.

She had not realised she had a dimple on her breast, and said the news was an “absolute shock”.

Mrs Walker had been vigilant about having a mammogram every two years, with a breast check at the GP in the alternating years, since her mother died from breast cancer almost three decades ago.

Mrs Walker had missed her usual breast check in 2020 due to Covid and had been due to attend a mammogram just weeks after that fateful weekend away.

Her treatment regimen has included medication, including through a clinical trial, and intravenous chemotherapy.

The cancer has spread to her spine and ribs, and disease throughout the liver is a “major concern”.

“I’ve lasted two and a bit years since my diagnosis and that’s due to fundraising and research that has happened since my mum died,” the grandmother said.

“We really need to be looking at causes and diagnosing rather than just treatments.”

She lost her hair through chemotherapy but has decided not to wear a wig, as it helps raise awareness and makes her feel liberated.

Mrs Walker is a pilates instructor but has been unable to do a full session for months due to losing muscle tone.

“I’m slowly trying to work that back,” she said.

“It’s difficult.

“I still have energy inside but physically I just need to take things a bit slower which is hard for someone like me who has always been active.”

Mrs Walker will have scans on Monday, and if her results are not stable she said her treatment options would be “very, very narrow”.

“You just have to keep a positive attitude and do what you can,” she said.

“It’s the liver that’s causing the issues so I need to treat my body with respect and keep my liver as healthy possible.”

Mrs Walker is a prolific fundraiser for Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea, and her event this year raised $15,000.

She said she had often supported other people’s fundraising, but after her own diagnosis and with her organiser style personality, she wanted to help raise awareness of the issues people with cancer face.

“I have a magnificent support base,” she said.

People can donate to Cancer Council Victoria anytime during the year at fundraising.cancervic.org.au/celebrate

Originally published as Lara woman diagnosed with cancer after falling over