Wangary farmer Alison Starke’s heartbreaking cancer diagnosis after brain tumour relief

Alison Starke was robbed of the ability to even speak in a decade-long struggle. But after she finally gained relief, fate delivered another brutal shock.

Alison Starke has lived with a brain tumour that rendered her non-verbal, immobile and caused her to have seizures and periodically collapse for more than a decade.

When the 48-year-old finally had the golf ball-sized meningioma removed, there was temporary relief until a few months later she was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer.

“(I feel) very bloody deflated actually,” her husband Kelvin Starke, 67, told The Advertiser, on behalf of himself and Alison, who is unable to speak.

“Wouldn’t have minded a couple year break … life is just a little unfair.”

Alison Starke, who lived with a brain tumour for 10 years before being diagnosed with stage four breast cancer, with her husband Kelvin. Picture: Supplied

The couple was forced to sell their 1200-acre property after Alison was diagnosed with the brain tumour. Picture: Supplied

The couple, who live in Wangary on the Eyre Peninsula, 15km north of Coffin Bay, were full-time farmers until Ms Starke’s benign brain tumour diagnosis more than 10 years ago.

“When I first met her, she would have a go at anything, because she could do anything,” said Mr Starke, a school bus driver and also now his wife’s full-time carer.

“We used to work very long days,” he said, until they were forced to sell their 1200-acre farm and move to a smaller property.

“When you’ve got to look after a partner, that’s just the way it goes.”

Alison and Kelvin Starke's family, daughter's Katelyn, Taneisha and Amahlia and granddaughters, Addison and Aria and son Bradley and his girlfriend Sophie. Picture: Supplied

Alison and Kelvin's daughter Amahlia, who hasn’t known her mum without being sick. Picture: Supplied

More than a decade ago, Ms Starke began to forget her four children’s names, how to walk and would faint regularly. An MRI revealed a brain tumour.

Over time, the mass grew from 22mm to 31mm as her symptoms worsened.

Three years ago, her speech disappeared - she’d never spoken to her granddaughter, until a week ago, when her speech miraculously reappeared for a short time, before vanishing again.

“It would come out all jumbled and you couldn’t understand it,” Mr Starke said.

Ms Starke communicates by writing.

Doctors had told the couple that because of the position of the tumour in her cerebellum it couldn’t be removed.

Alison Starke, with her eldest daughter Katelyn. Picture: Supplied

Alison is undergoing radiation therapy and taking medication to stop the production of oestrogen. Picture: Supplied

But in 2024 the Starkes switched doctors and the tumour was removed in August 2024 in a 10-hour operation.

After the surgery, Ms Starke began walking again and briefly speaking.

A few months later, in January, her left shoulder hurt and Ms Starke discovered a lump in her right breast.

“It was just a bad series of events,” Mr Starke said.

Alison Starke with her sister Danyelle. Picture: Supplied

Alison Starke's head after the doctor removed a golf ball-sized brain tumour in a 10-hour operation. Picture: Supplied

Mr Starke said his wife struggles with the fact her diagnosis isn’t curable, just treatable.

“You’ve got to live with the fact that it’s always going to be there,” the 67-year-old said.

The cancer, which has spread to her left arm, lymph nodes, spine and rib cage, is oestrogen based. Mr Starke said his wife will have radiotherapy and take medication to prevent her body from producing oestrogen.

“They seem to think that will starve the cancer,” he said.

If you’d like to donate to Alison, you can here.

Originally published as Wangary farmer Alison Starke’s heartbreaking cancer diagnosis after brain tumour relief