LNP candidate for Mundingburra Janelle Poole shares ‘emotional rollercoaster’ following cancer diagnosis

Just one day after revealing her cancer diagnosis, LNP candidate for Mundingburra Janelle Poole was back on the campaign trail, speaking candidly about her health and what’s driving her to keep going. WATCH THE VIDEO.

Just one day after revealing her cancer diagnosis, LNP candidate for Mundingburra Janelle Poole was back on the campaign trail, speaking candidly about her health and what’s driving her to keep going.

On Sunday, the police officer turned state election candidate released a statement revealing that she is battling follicular Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

The diagnosis came only a few days ago after she began experiencing persistent back pain, which she initially attributed to the long days of doorknocking.

Poole described the following two and a half days as nothing short of an emotional “rollercoaster” filled with difficult conversations with family and friends.

“First and foremost I cannot thank our wonderful doctors and nurses and our staff at the Townsville University Hospital (enough),” she said.

“The diagnosis that I have is treatable and I would just want the community to know that it has strengthened my resolve to represent the community, to continue as the LNP candidate for Mundingburra.”

Hermit Park Football Club President Robbie Bethune with LNP candidate for Mundingburra Janelle Poole.

Now on a treatment plan, Ms Poole expressed her gratitude for the outpouring of support since making her announcement, noting how many locals have shared their own stories of similar health battles.

“It was very, very important to me that I shared this information with the community,” she said.

“It is a journey. One thing I have found since the announcement is there are a lot of people that are on this journey … You have to go through it to get through it.”

Despite her diagnosis, the LNP candidate is not backing down from her bid to win the seat of Mundingburra — a seat previously held by David Crisafulli until 2015 — on October 26.

LNP leader David Crisafulli (right) speaks with Natalie Marr and Janelle Poole.

With her doctors’ approval, she’s pressing ahead with full energy, and said she’s been deeply moved by the support from the Townsville community.

“I have been overwhelmed with the messages of support and in particular, as I said, it’s a journey, it’s an emotional rollercoaster.,” she said.

LNP Mundingburra candidate Janelle Poole. Picture: Evan Morgan

“And people wanting to reach out and share their journey is very beautiful and that also makes me feel very close to them, but it has been nothing short of 100 per cent supportive and ‘you’ve got this, you can do this’, and together we can all move forward and in 19 days have a better plan for Queensland.”

Saying she has no plans to slow down, Ms Poole says she is ramping up ahead of what she says is ‘one of the most important elections in our time’.

“I have knocked on thousands of doors, I have still been out road-siding, I have been talking to people, phone canvassing, attending events, so it hasn’t stopped me from doing any of that,” she said.

“The feeling that is out there is one of wanting change, and it’s a positive feeling of change.”

Originally published as LNP candidate for Mundingburra Janelle Poole shares ‘emotional rollercoaster’ following cancer diagnosis