Geelong police officer Megan De Winne facing the fight of her life
Geelong Highway Patrol officer Megan De Winne is calling for her community to get checked out amid her own health fight. This is why.
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Geelong Highway Patrol officer Megan De Winne is facing her toughest battle yet after being diagnosed with bowel cancer.
The Senior Sergeant had a “niggling pain” in her stomach area for several weeks, but assumed it was due to the heavy vests police officers wear.
Sgt De Winne initially dismissed the pain, but after one gruelling shift she felt so fatigued and nauseous she ended up at the emergency department.
A CT scan revealed a mass in her bowel and after further testing the 48-year-old was diagnosed with cancer.
Sgt De Winne said she has no family history of bowel cancer.
Just five days after seeking pain treatment, Sgt De Winne was admitted to surgery where she had up to 30cm of her colon removed.
Doctors found the cancer had spread to her right ovarie, which was removed, and a lymph node.
Surgeons at Melbourne Private Hospital removed 15 lymph nodes in an attempt to contain the cancer in early February.
“I recovered really well the doctors have said and about a month later I had a port put in my chest and I had chemo that same day,” Sgt De Winne said.
The veteran police officer, who became a minor celebrity after appearing in Channel 7s Highway Patrol television series about 10 years ago, said she remains positive.
Sgt De Winne is now about half way through a gruelling chemo treatment.
“My chemo consists of me sitting in a chair for four hours and then being sent home with a bottle of chemo for 46 hours,” Sgt De Winne said.
The treatment is expected to end in August and Sgt De Winne hopes to be declared cancer free.
While she admits the treatments have been tough, Sgt De Winne is continuing to work – on light duties – at Waurn Ponds.
She said the support of colleagues was morale boosting during a very difficult time.
“It was a shock,” she said, of her diagnosis.
“I was expecting an ulcer. Nothing drew me to believe that I had cancer.
“When they said it, my whole world sort of flipped. I have an 11-year-old daughter who relies on me every day and she’s my world and I’m her world – it really took me by surprise.”
Sgt De Winne’s colleagues – led by Sgt Fletcher Pearson, Snr Sgt Chris Gilsenan and Acting Sgt Andrew Connors – this week walked 100km around Geelong to raise funds for Bowel Cancer Australia.
Sgt De Winne said she hoped sharing her story would raise awareness of the disease.
“It really highlights that you don’t need major symptoms to have cancer,” she said.
“My advice is to just check yourself, be aware and if there are any concerns get yourself checked out.”
Sgt De Winne thanks her doctors at Melbourne Private for their “lifesaving” treatment.
To donate visit: https://makingadifference.gofundraise.com.au/page/fletcher-95917262.
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Originally published as Geelong police officer Megan De Winne facing the fight of her life
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