Sunshine Coast nurse Vivienne Greene shares cancer shock

A mum-of-three who fought for 18 months for a cancer diagnosis after feeling ‘something wasn’t right’ has revealed a heartbreaking update as she urges other women to advocate for their health.

Vivienne Greene with her three daughters.

A Sunshine Coast nurse and mum-of-three has shared her heartbreaking cancer diagnosis, just months after she thought she had beaten the illness for good.

Vivienne Greene, who works as a registered nurse at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, was first diagnosed with a rare form of cervical cancer in 2022 after telling doctors for nearly 18 months something wasn’t right.

Ms Greene said because her cancer is HPV independent, her regular cervical screening tests did not pick up any abnormalities.

“The cervical cancer that I have is actually a really rare form, so in 2017 they changed the way they changed the way they test for cervical cancer,” Ms Greene said.

“Rather than being the full abnormal cell pap smear test, they only test for HPV.”

Ms Greene said she fought for a 18 months for a diagnosis after feeling “something wasn’t right”.

Ms Greene said the change in testing meant her cancer went undetected despite insisting to doctors that something was wrong.

“It took me over a year and a half of just really pushing doctors and going back saying something is not right, to eventually being diagnosed,” Ms Greene said.

“Women need to always advocate for themselves, because you know your body, doctors absolutely do their job but you know yourself.

“If you know something isn’t right keep pushing.”

Ms Greene then underwent chemotherapy, radiation and a hysterectomy in 2023, believing she had beaten the cancer until September this year when she received the devastating news it had returned.

Ms Greene was first diagnosed in 2022 and underwent a number of intensive treatments before a hysterectomy in 2023.

Ms Greene said ensuring she has a future with her three daughters was her main priority as she seeks treatment overseas.

“Just being there for them, I’m all they have,” Ms Greene said.

“I don’t even know how to express how much I have to live for and how much I want to live, it is cruel and I feel it is almost a form of torture.”

A GoFundMe to help with Ms Greene’s medical expenses as she seeks treatment in Mexico has currently raised $30,000 of the $70,000 goal.