'I have cancer, but I'm more worried about my sons' Christmas'

“I was in tears and worried about how the boys would enjoy Christmas, but I’m trying to make it a big thing at home for them and make it special."

Adelaide mum Stacey had an inkling something was wrong when she visited her doctor last month.

She had a lump on her neck that she’d noticed in the past couple of months, and decided to go to the doctor when it kept getting bigger.

“I initially thought I might have just been sick with swollen glands, but it never went away and kept getting bigger” she told Kidspot.

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“The doctor said it had probably been growing for a long time.”

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Stacey with her husband and two boys. Picture: Supplied

"I had a gut feeling something was wrong"

Stacey was sent for an ultrasound, where the technician told her he didn’t think the lump was anything suspicious.

“I had a gut feeling something was wrong, so I went and got a biopsy done the following week,” Stacey said.

“They same some other things they were concerned about during a CT scan, and that’s where they found it had spread into my lymph nodes.”

The ‘it’ was metastatic thyroid cancer, which Stacey was officially diagnosed with on November 8.

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Stacey was diagnosed with the cancer just three weeks ago. Picture: Supplied

"You never think it's cancer"

She now faces more scans next week to see if the cancer has spread to any other parts of her body.

“I know I’ll need some course of treatment, but it’ll depend on the spread,” she said. 

“If it has spread, it will be fairly intense, but if it’s contained where it is, it could just be a bit of treatment and surgery.

“I had a gut feeling that something was bad, so I think I took it quite well all things considered, but I was still in shock. You never think it’s cancer.”

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Stacey said her husband had been a massive support to her every step of the way. Picture: Supplied

"The amount of love and support I've received has shocked me"

Despite the upcoming fight Stacey faces, her thoughts are only with her husband and two boys, and how she’ll help them through the battle.

Stacey’s two boys are both neurodivergent. Her oldest son, 12, has autism, and her youngest son, 9, has ADHD and global developmental delay.

“I haven’t told my kids yet, just because I want a plan in place to tell them about before they go off searching for worst-case scenarios,” Stacey said.

“My husband has been amazing, but he’s really emotional and scared at the same time. He’s been there with me every step of the way.

“People I know are already constantly checking up on me, and the support I’ve received from my family is incredible.

“Getting this diagnosis, and seeing the amount of love and support I’ve received from everywhere, it’s shocked me a little bit.”

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Despite her upcoming battle, Stacey's focus has shifted to making sure her boys have a good Christmas. Picture: Supplied

"I was worried about how the boys would enjoy Christmas"

Stacey’s auntie, Kylie, has set up a GoFundMe for the family as they face late changes to their Christmas plans and a mum who has been forced to go back to two days of work a week due to her condition.

“I stand up all day at work, and the exhaustion will loop into headaches and vertigo, so it’s hard for me to work for extended periods,” Stacey said.

“I’m still trying to work where I can, but it’s really hard.

“I grew up in Victoria, so we were meant to be going back there for Christmas, but because of my appointments we won’t be able to go.

“I was in tears and worried about how the boys would enjoy Christmas, but I’m trying to make it a big thing at home for them and make it special.

“I’ll get them some extra presents and special treats.”

The fundraiser has raised $500 as of Thursday afternoon, and Stacey said she was “so thankful” for the support she’d already received.

Originally published as 'I have cancer, but I'm more worried about my sons' Christmas'