Cancer survivor celebrates 50th by fundraising for Cancer Council on Gold Coast

A Gold Coast woman who was too scared to see the doctor is lucky to be alive after a shock diagnosis requiring months of treatment and surgery.

A Gold Coast woman who was too scared to see the doctor is lucky to be alive after a shock diagnosis requiring months of treatment and surgery.

A WOMAN diagnosed with bowel cancer says she is no longer scared of the terrible disease after surviving a harrowing 18 months of treatment to become cancer-free.

Christine Parker was diagnosed with bulky rectal bowel cancer in February 2018 after putting off the lifesaving test for three months.

Now, she is urging others to get checked immediately.

Christine Parker says she's no longer scared of cancer after surviving a scary 18 months of surgery, chemo and doctor's appointments after bowel cancer and is now holding a fundraiser on the weekend. Her mother, Margaret Parker, 82, is also a cancer survivor and they have their birthdays on the same date. Picture: Jerad Williams

“I decided to self-diagnose, I was that frightened of going to the doctors,” she told the Bulletin.

SUBSCRIPTION OFFER: GET FULL DIGITAL ACCESS + JABRA WIRELESS HEADPHONES

Luckily, a friend urged her to get checked, which quickly led to her diagnosis and subsequent treatment.

The Varsity Lakes resident underwent numerous tests, X-rays, surgery and chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which shrunk the tumours.

Last July she underwent a double loop ileostomy to give her a colostomy bag, before it was finally reversed in February this year.

OTHER NEWS:

Plans for sky bridge to Pacific Fair

Mum’s shock over redback in Coles broccoli

Woman ‘upgrades’ stroller to expensive pram in alleged theft

The mother daughter pair and both cancer survivors. Picture: Jerad Williams

“My large bowel was retired for eight months while it healed,” she said.

“I struggled at first with it … and for about four months had depression too. I wasn’t sure I was going to see my 50th.

“Doctors said to me, you’re blessed, you’re very lucky (you’re alive).

“I’m not scared anymore, because knowledge is power. I studied what could happen to me, started laughing instead of being stressed. I changed my diet, asked more questions.”

Ms Parker officially became cancer-free earlier this year, saying she was glad she would live to see her 50th birthday next week.

It’s a special day she shares with her mother, also a cancer survivor, both born June 6. Her mother, Margaret Parker, will turn 82.

To celebrate their birthdays, the pair will host a fundraising event at the Greenmount Surf Club on June 1 at 3.30pm.

There will be a live band, business vouchers up for grabs in a raffle and auctions of photography prints and a hard-carved surfboard by Alymer Kenny. All profits made will be donated towards the Cancer Council.