Kate Middlemiss, Sunshine Coast mother of three, on life lessons from triple negative breast cancer

A Queensland mother has traded in the dream life her and her husband spent years building together to travel Australia in a van with their three children – after a devastating cancer diagnosis opened their eyes to what’s really important.

Kate, Katarina, Rowdy, and Dalton Middlemiss. Picture - contributed.

A Sunshine Coast mother has traded in the dream life her and her husband spent years building together to travel Australia in a van with their three children – after a devastating cancer diagnosis opened their eyes to what’s really important.

Kate and Reece Middlemiss, of Mooloolah Valley, had it all. They were high school sweethearts and had been together since they 16 years old.

Mr Middlemiss owned his own home renovation and handyman business. Mrs Middlemiss had an important corporate job in the finance industry and a successful side hustle selling clean beauty and hair products for MONAT on her social media.

They worked hard, saved their money, and bought a beautiful family home where their three young children attended nice schools and day cares.

After a life changing surgery and months of hard work Mrs Middlemiss had just lost 60kg. With beautiful hair down to her waist and a body she was proud of – she’d never felt more feminine, beautiful, or confident.

Until it all came crumbling down.

In May 2022 she was having a bath with her three-year-old son when she felt a lump in her breast.

Kate Middlemiss cut her hair shoulder length before shaving it during her chemo. Picture – contributed.

“I’d not long had our daughter so I was trying to tell myself it may have just been a milk lump,” she said.

“But my grandma had died of breast cancer quite young and call it womanly intuition, but I just knew something was wrong.

“I called my doctor straight away.”

After two weeks of tests and scans she was diagnosed with cancer.

“I was in shock. I tried to tell myself and my husband it was okay but everything inside of me crumbled,” Mrs Middlemiss said.

Two weeks after the diagnosis, Mrs Middlemiss started on an aggressive chemotherapy plan.

About six months later and she went in for surgery. It lasted 10 hours.

Kate Middlemiss, Sunshine Coast mother of three, on life lessons from triple negative breast cancer. Picture – contributed.

“I had a double mastectomy and then a reconstruction. They took away my breasts and replaced it with fat from my tummy,” she said.

“It was invasive and full on but it was about the longevity of my life. I couldn’t risk the cancer returning. I wanted to be there for my family.

“At this point I’d already lost all of my hair which was devastating. I’d never realised how much of my identity I placed in my long hair. It was made me feel feminine and beautiful.”

Mrs Middlemiss said she’d never forget the “awful” day she shaved her head.

“Then embraced being bald. Once I got used to it, it eventually felt so liberating,” she said.

“I was free once I learnt it was only hair and it doesn’t define you or make you beautiful.

“It’s been a very hard and emotional yet freeing journey. It’s made me really reconsider my life and made me realise life is short.”

Two years post diagnosis: Kate, Reece, Katarina, Rowdy, and Dalton Middlemiss. Picture – contributed.

Reflecting on her journey, Mrs Middlemiss said losing her breasts wasn’t quite as difficult.

“I’d already lost my hair at that point and I knew my husband would love me no matter what,” she said.

“He made me feel beautiful for who I was not what I looked like. He was very supportive.

“It was still hard though. As women we’re told the most feminine parts of us are our breasts and hair. And I lost both to keep myself alive.”

Next week will be two years post diagnosis for Mrs Middlemiss. Her family will celebrate how far they’ve come from the van they’re travelling Australia in.

“We rented out our home, left April 22 and are loving it,” she said.

“For the next three years I have 12 monthly check ups. Then if it’s all cleared I’m classified as officially being in remission.

“It’s almost been a blessing. I’ve learnt to stay positive and appreciate the little things.

“We have no schedule, no plan, it’s just a mum, dad, and three kids in a caravan travelling around Australia.”