Bek Bainbridge raises awareness for Daffodil Day after brain cancer diagnosis

Shocking MRI results recently changed the life of a North Geelong mum, who now lives in hope of a research breakthrough.

Bek Bainbridge in a sea of daffodils at the Geelong Flower Farm ahead of Daffodil Day. Picture: Alan Barber

A North Geelong mum says she is trying to make the most of life after learning she has incurable and malignant brain cancer.

Bek Bainbridge, 41, went for an MRI after experiencing symptoms like headaches and weakness on her left side for about six weeks.

The next day — May 31 this year — her doctor called her and told her to pack her bag for hospital.

She immediatelytravelled to the Royal Melbourne Hospital and was told she needed surgery to remove atumour from her brain.

“They were able to do that three days later and send the tumour off for testing, which came back as glioblastoma,” she said.

Ms Bainbridge, who has two sons aged eight and 12, said the diagnosis “couldn’t have been much worse” and was a shock to the system.

The malignant and aggressive brain cancer has no cure.

“Just in an instant I went from working full time and volunteering at my boys’ soccer club and doing everything to not being able to drive, being reliant on everyone for everything,” the veteran Transport Accident Commission staffer said.

“If I sit back and think about it it’s very overwhelming.”

Ms Bainbridge has just finished her first round of treatment – six weeks of radiation therapy and chemotherapy at Barwon Health’s Andrew Love Cancer Centre.

While most of the large tumour was removed in surgery, Ms Bainbridge said due to its fast-growing nature she had regular MRIs as her situation could change quickly.

“It’s a matter of when it will come back, rather than if, but the treatment is around trying to delay that,” she said.

Ms Bainbridge said her family and partner had rallied around her and been “absolutely incredible”.

“I’m just trying to take one thing at a time, celebrate wins when they’re there and enjoy life,” she said.

Ms Bainbridge urged people to be vigilant about their health.

“If there’s something not normal that is persistent, talk to your doctor sooner rather than later,” she said.

Thursday is Daffodil Day, a Cancer Council fundraising campaign supporting cancer research.

“Daffodil Day is a great source information and without research there’s just not going to be advancements and that’s really what I’m holding out hope for — that there’s a breakthrough somewhere,” Ms Bainbridge said.

For more information visit www.daffodilday.com.au

Originally published as Bek Bainbridge raises awareness for Daffodil Day after brain cancer diagnosis