Sunshine Coast man’s plan to help others, travel after cancer diagnosis

A Sunshine Coast man who received a devastating diagnosis five years ago is dedicating his days to helping others and ticking off a bucket list with his wife.

Peter Geary and his wife, Narelle, are travelling to as many places as possible following Peter’s cancer diagnosis. Picture: Contributed

There is no cure for Peter Geary’s cancer but the Mount Coolum resident is in remission and using his time to help others in a similar situation.

The 68-year-old said he was also ticking some big ticket travel items off his bucket list while he was well.

Mr Geary was diagnosed with a blood cancer, smouldering myeloma, in 2018.

At first, his cancer was monitored with blood tests and in 2019 he needed chemotherapy before going through a stem cell transplant.

The transplant, a time intensive procedure, could only be done in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast man said he was lucky to find out about the state government travel and accommodation subsidy available for people in his position.

Peter Geary was diagnosed with an incurable blood cancer in 2018 and is travelling to as many destinations as possible with his wife, Narelle, while he is well. Picture: Contributed

He stayed in a Leukaemia Foundation lodge during his treatment in Brisbane, which is provided funds by Dry July Foundation, and said more people from regional areas needed to know about the subsidy.

Mr Geary said there was no cure for his cancer but he was in remission after further treating his condition with a drug regimen.

Peter Geary and his wife, Narelle, are ticking off travel destinations while Peter is well. Picture: Contributed

“It’s bizarre, I suppose, because I don’t feel unwell or some of the other issues of people who’ve been diagnosed,” he said.

Now he is “doing all the things my wife wants to do”, travel wise, while he is well.

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“In the back of her mind she’s saying ‘let’s do things as fast as possible’,” Mr Geary said.

When he is not travelling he volunteers in respite once a week and likes to support others going through similar treatment processes.

“Part of my ambition is to help the Cancer Council to get a standardised protocol for treatment, no matter where you are, so everyone has the same potential to have the same outcome,” he said.

He said people with blood cancers especially had to travel from regional areas for treatment in the cities and were sometimes away from home for months at a time.