Chermside woman connecting young ovarian cancer sufferers
There’s a reason Jess Best has been chosen as the Face of the 2019 Cancer Council Queensland Relay for Life, and it’s got little to do with the disease she was diagnosed with halfway through her uni degree.
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When Jess Best was in high school one of her teachers told her no matter what happened in life “there’s a positive in everything”.
Diagnosed with ovarian cancer just over a year ago, the 21-year-old is now fighting to prove to her teacher it’s true.
“I thought right I can either let this beat me or I can see the positive” she said.
“Of course I have days where I am like angry and sad but I thought I am going to help and to advocate and I am going to make sure people know about this.”
She said knowing it was “the deadliest female cancer out there” was frightening.
“I want people to know what it is and to look for symptoms themselves,” she said.
“We are so passionate about breast cancer, and don’t get me wrong I am so thankful breast cancer has such a high survival rate, but this is the number one killer for women. I just feel that if people like me don’t speak out and talk about this there is no awareness.”
After suffering stomach pains, bloating and feeling tired last year, Jess’ GP sent her for some tests and then a scan. A phone call revealed the worst on June 1, 2018.
With no family history, the Chermside West resident said she was in complete shock.
“I didn’t know anything about it,” she said.
“I’d had endometriosis and my GP thought my pain could be from that. I just had no idea. It wasn’t until I did some research that I understood what it was.”
The diagnosis came right in the middle of Jess’ university degree - she was studying to become a teacher.
“At first I was so angry and upset. All my friends were still working and studying and I was like I am not doing anything (she began her first round of chemotherapy almost straight away). I could barely work because I was so sick.
“Then I realised I had the most important job of all – keeping myself alive. I realised it’s okay not to be doing what everyone else is doing.
“That was a big lesson, that you can’t compare yourself to everyone else.”
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With a wisdom well beyond her years, Jess is taking the challenges of her disease and turning them into an opportunity.
“I have a great family and they said to me you’ll be doing all that (you want) one day soon,” she said.
“Then I thought to myself I can’t educate children yet but I will use my expertise elsewhere. I will educate people about ovarian cancer.”
Jess has just been named the Face of Cancer Council Queensland’s 2019 Brisbane Relay For Life, to be held on October 19-20 at Clairvaux MacKillop College.
She has also been invited to speak at schools about resilience and her diagnosis.
“Not necessarily talking about cancer, but more about how life can go in different directions and that’s okay,” she said.
“It’s about seeing what’s really important in life. Things that were important before aren’t really at the top of my list these days … if I feel good I might think I’ll see a cousin I haven’t seen for a few weeks or take my granny out for morning tea … it makes me realise, and I know people say this, but life is really so short.
“It takes something like this to make you realise it.
“Yes it’s a shitty hand of cards but it’s what I do with it that counts.”
She said far too many women were losing their lives to ovarian cancer.
With no current screening test available, ovarian cancer takes the lives of 1200 Australian women every year and has the lowest survial rate of all women’s cancers.
“You don’t think it will happen to you or you think I’m fit or I don’t smoke or I don’t drink but it doesn’t discriminate,” she said.
SYMPTOMS OF OVARIAN CANCER
- Increased abdominal size or persistent abdominal bloating
- Abdominal or pelvic (lower tummy) pain
- Feeling full after eating a small amount
- Needing to urinate often or urgently
- Additional Symptoms
- Changes in bowel habits
- Unexplained weight gain or loss
- Excessive fatigue
- Lower back pain
- Indigestion or nausea
- Bleeding after menopause or in-between periods
- Pain during sex or bleeding after
Source: Ovarian Cancer Australia
One of the great positives has been connecting with other young people with the same diagnosis.
“At first I thought I’m so young and I really thought it was something women got when they were older.
“I started to get really upset and I felt so alone. I didn’t know anyone who had ovarian cancer.”
In the end she turned to Instagram.
“I scrolled through and tried to find girls my age.”
Her search led her to the US where she found Taylor and the two young women began to share their journey and together they began to formulate a plan – to raise awareness using social media to bring together a global network of young women fighting ovarian cancer.
“Our stories are everything,” Jess said.
“It enables you to understand what others are going through and to feel that you are not alone and it doesn’t matter whether it’s ovarian or breast or prostate there’s still similarities in all of that.
“Working with Cancer Council for Relay for Life I realise there are so many people in the world affected by cancer. Everyone knows someone or has lost someone because of cancer.
“It is so important to talk about how you are feeling, how you are coping. Talk about what worked for you and what didn’t work.
“You just don’t know how sharing will affect someone. The number of messages I’ve had from people saying you really helped me.
“I felt so vulnerable sharing my story but when I see it helps someone else it’s worth it.”
Relay For Life is a fundraising challenge that brings the community together to raise awareness of cancer and fight back against the disease by raising funds.
Cancer Council Queensland CEO Chris McMillian said the charity was delighted to have Ms Best as the Face of Brisbane Relay For Life.
“Jessica is passionate about raising awareness and reaching out to support locals who are affected by cancer – that is what Relay For Life is all about,” Ms McMillan said.
“By joining Jessica at Brisbane Relay For Life, you will give hope to all locals affected by cancer and help get one step closer to a cancer free future.
“Relay is an event for anyone, no matter their age or ability, who is inspired to fight back against cancer and make a difference in their local community.”
To register a team, volunteer, or find out more, visit www.relayforlife.org.au or call 1300 65 65 85.
More information about Cancer Council Queensland is available via www.cancerqld.org.au or 13 11 20.
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