Lindy Webster: Ipswich woman’s breast cancer journey inspires millions on TikTok

When an Ipswich mum-of-four received her devastating breast cancer diagnosis, she turned to her online community for solace — now millions of people are watching her inspiring journey unfold.

About this time last year, Ipswich nurse and mum-of-four Lindy Webster was going about her life as normal when she received some news that would impact her forever.

She had been diagnosed with hormone positive breast cancer after a routine mammogram.

“I was on my own when I got the news because, well, I didn’t think I was going to get that news,” Ms Webster, 46, said.

“I rang my husband ... and I just cried, as you do.”

The Yamanto mum said she had no suspicions whatsoever that she had cancer. The news knocked the wind out of her.

As part of a visual record of her day, Ms Webster had earlier filmed a clip of the breast screening clinic reception where she waited for her mammogram results.

The cancer diagnosis came as huge shock to nurse and mum-of-four Lindy Webster. Picture: Supplied

When delivered the devastating news, she felt compelled to continue recording.

“My results weren’t good guys,” she recorded herself saying.

“I have stage two breast cancer.” She broke down crying. “Oh, my god.”

A month later, on February 17 last year, she shared the video to social networking platform TikTok. It has since been viewed more than 160,000 times.

In March, Ms Webster decided to have a double mastectomy. She stopped working, underwent surgery, and commenced chemotherapy treatment in April.

“I did that fortnightly for four weeks and then I did 12 weeks of weekly chemo,” she said.

“And then I had three weeks off before doing five weeks of daily radiation.”

Ms Webster said she was grateful to have the support of her husband, children, and TikTok and YouTube followers throughout her treatment. Picture: Supplied

Throughout her treatment, Ms Webster continued recording snippets of her day — from fun dances to heartbreaking revelations about the reality of cancer — and sharing them to TikTok.

It was not until one seconds-long clip of her dancing attracted 13,000 viewers that she realised she had more than a few fans.

“It absolutely helped. TikTok helped me get through it,” she said.

“Doing the dances kept me focused. It gave me something to do.”

As well as the support she received from her husband, family, and friends, she said that from her TikTok and YouTube family was crucial in her recovery.

“The words of strangers is very powerful and motivating,” she said.

“Knowing you are helping others through a difficult time, reaches your soul in such a profound manner.

“This journey isn't just about me (it) is about everyone going through a similar journey.”

Ms Webster said losing her red hair, which had long been her defining feature, was devastating. Picture: Supplied

The platform also connected her with a community of people she could relate to and seek advice and solace from. In turn, she helped others feel less alone in their journeys.

“Losing my hair was the hardest thing — harder than losing my boobs,” she said.

“I cried for three days when I lost my hair.

“It’s a reminder. Every time you look in the mirror, it’s a reminder of what you’ve been through.”

On November 11, nearly 10 months since her diagnosis, Ms Webster completed her radiation treatment.

She had a hysterectomy to cause menopause which, paired with a lifetime of hormone blockers, will hopefully keep her cancer-free.

Ms Webster ‘vlogged’ her entire cancer journey on her YouTube channel — lindyloo03. Picture: Supplied

Ms Webster began preparing for her return to work, and to normalcy, and recorded herself trying her uniform on for the very first time since her double mastectomy.

“I haven’t worn this since I had long, red hair and big t***,” she said in a video shared to TikTok last month.

She placed the shirt over her head, worked her arms through the sleeves, and turned her body so she could see her side profile.

“OK. I’m not ready to see that,” she said.

“That’s really hard.”

Her husband and the rest of her family helped her through 10 months of treatment. Picture: Supplied

The video has now been viewed more than 2.1 million times, receiving more than 324,000 likes and 13,800 comments.

“It was overwhelming,” Ms Webster said of the response.

“I didn’t know how to cope with it.

“I didn’t expect putting my uniform on to be that emotional.”

She said it was difficult to see herself in her work uniform post-operation because the changes to her body throughout her treatment had seemed gradual to her until that point.

“That was a real ‘before and after’,” she said.

“I’m OK with how I look in general, but that was just a shock.

“That was the purest, deepest (video) from my heart.”

Ipswich breast cancer survivor and online phenomenon Lindy Webster finally rang the ceremonial bell in November last year — the tradition signalling the end of her treatment. Picture: Supplied

Ms Webster said TikTok and her online community essentially got her through her treatment. Dancing and performing for others in particular gave her something positive to focus on during some of the darker periods.

Since returning to work last month, Ms Webster said she had never been so happy to live a normal, mundane life.

“I am proud actually of what I’ve accomplished,” she said.

“You don’t know your own strength sometimes.”