Sydney writer Natalie Fornasier dead at 28 after melanoma battle

Sydney writer Natalie Fornasier has died at the age of 28 after a years-long battle with metastatic melanoma.

Sydney writer Natalie Fornasier has died at the age of 28 after a years-long battle with metastatic melanoma.

An obituary in The Sydney Morning Herald on January 28 confirmed the news; according to the announcement, Fornasier died on January 14.

“Beloved Wife of Alexander. Much loved Sister of Alex, loving Daughter of Peter & Lorena. Adored Daughter-in-law of Kirsten. She will be dearly missed by her Grandparents, Aunties, Uncles, Cousins, Natalie’s German family & devoted ‘Little Helpers’,” the notice said.

Fornasier, who was initially diagnosed with Stage III metastatic melanoma at age 20, was prolific in raising awareness around the importance of sun safety, and an inspiration and driving force for the #CallTimeOnMelanoma initiative.

Natalie Fornasier has died at the age of 28 after a lengthy battle with metastatic melanoma. Picture: Instagram

The Sydney writer shared in December that her cancer had become terminal. Picture: Instagram

In an Instagram post in December, Fornasier shared with her 35.1k followers that “at the end of July, I received the news that my cancer was now terminal and [I] had months left to live” after the condition developed into stage IV.

A GoFundMe set up for her husband, Alexander, and family to cover funeral expenses and so that they can “grieve without financial worry for what’s around the corner” has now raised over $100,000.

“[Terminal] is a word I had been skating around for years, a word that terrified me because I always knew it could be a possibility. But it’s also a frame of mind I never anticipated I would have to enter,” she wrote at the time.

“As I descended into what it meant to be terminal – I entered the deepest hole of depression I’ve ever experienced. Every day for the past four months I’ve cried and screamed. I’ve fallen into oblivion crying for Alexander, the heartbreak, and the love I would be leaving – for the life we were supposed to have.

“I’ve cried for my family. I’ve cried myself hoarse about the fear of death. I’ve screamed for the children I would never have, the growing old, my friends, the life I was supposed to live.

“It’s not easy to admit that I’m dying. At 28 years old … everything about it feels wrong. The conversations I’ve had to have, the plans I’ve had to make, the places my thoughts have gone and are still going – none of it is natural. It’s painful.”

Fornasier with her husband, Alexander. Picture: Instagram

The 28-year-old was first diagnosed with melanoma aged 20. Picture: Instagram

In a follow-up post on December 21, Fornasier, who documented her eight-year cancer battle on social media, in podcast interviews and dozens of articles online, wrote that after a month in palliative care, she could “no longer walk without aids”.

“My legs are filled with fluid, my whole body aches 24/7 and the tumour burden is intense. My pain is increasing slowly, day by day I can feel my body slow just that little bit more which is such a bizarre thing to witness – especially when you can physically feel it too,” she added.

According to current statistics from the Cancer Council, two in three Australians are predicted to be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer by the age of 70 – yet recent research from life insurer TAL found that 63 per cent of the population have not had a skin check in the last 12 months, and 30 per cent have never had one.

Fornasier was diagnosed shortly after she turned 20, when doctors discovered mole on her fourth toe “the size of a fingernail” was melanoma, and had manifested in her lymph nodes.

Aside from a “hiccup” with her ovary in 2015, she explained in an interview with Byrdie that she was almost at five years of clean scans when, in 2018, doctors found two “nodules” on her right lung – which also turned out to be melanoma.

After multiple clinical trials, in February last year she was told that her cancer had “got into my bones” and was now “all under my skin in lumps and bumps that I can feel and see”.

Asked by one of her followers in December what can be done to honour her legacy, Fornasier wrote: “Wear your sunscreen and tell others to as well.”

“Notice that your existence on this earth IS magical. Live. Just embrace the joy that it is to be alive. Yes, some days will be shit. But life is wondrous. It really is and to be able to live that, to experience it … how cool,” she added.

“So take a few minutes every day to just watch the clouds, or listen to the rain. Be present as much as possible. Stay close to those who feel like sunlight and love as much as you can.

“And maybe along the way, just think of me.”

Originally published as Sydney writer Natalie Fornasier dead at 28 after melanoma battle