Bell Park teacher Lisa Webster to fight stage four cancer diagnosis

A grandmother, primary school teacher and full time caregiver of two children has been left in shock after receiving a “horrible” diagnosis.

Bell Park woman Lisa Webster, already a cancer survivor, was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer following an unrelated check up, after she began feeling ill. Pictured here with partner Janko Stojanovski

A caring Geelong mother and primary school teacher received the unthinkable news that she had stage four cancer after a standard check up.

Bell Park woman Lisa Webster, already a cancer survivor, was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer following an unrelated check up, after she began feeling ill.

Ms Webster said the news left her feeling “numb”.

“I’m in shock, four weeks ago my life was normal,” Ms Webster said.

“Now I have been told I have stage 4 cancer, my whole life has been turned upside down.

Ms Webster found out she had cancer after an unrelated check up.

“It was difficult to take in what the doctor was saying, I just kept looking at my partner and thinking ‘can we go now? Because I don’t want to hear what this doctor is saying’.”

It’s not the first time Ms Webster has been told she has cancer.

Late in 2023, shortly after moving to Bell Park from Melbourne’s east, she had a full hysterectomy after being diagnosed with stage one cancer.

The surgery worked, and Ms Webster was declared cancer free, until her latest diagnosis in late February.

“Last time when I went to see the doctor he said ‘you’re curable, it’s not going to kill you’,” she said.

Ms Webster said she was “fortunate” to be able to pick up the cancer while chemo was still an option.

“But this time they can’t say that, this time they can say ‘we can try all these things,’ but there’s no guarantees it’s going to work.”

Ms Webster said a bout of vomiting, which she had chalked up to a bad bout of gasto, had led her to seek a check-up.

Her GP recommended having her stomach checked due to medication she had been taking.

“They did a CT scan and they found it,” Ms Webster said.

“So it was kind of fortunate, in a sense, even though it’s a horrible diagnosis.

“At least we can try and do something, because often this kind of cancer can go undetected until they can’t do anything.”

Bell Park woman Lisa Webster, already a cancer survivor, was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer following an unrelated check up, after she began feeling ill.

Ms Webster begins chemotherapy on Thursday, and remains optimistic.

Despite hoping for the best, the public school teacher is planning for the worst, in particular what it will mean for her three children, two of whom Ms Webster remains the full time caregiver of.

“My 18-year-old son and my 31-year-old daughter have autism and live we me,” she said.

“I also have another son who has a daughter, lives independently and is married.

“I just hope it can buy me time, at least.”

Ms Webster said her diagnosis, which leaves her unable to work, means if things don’t go well, her children will be forced to sell her Bell Park house due to its outstanding mortgage.

“I’m a single mum, I’ve only got into the property market as an older person,”

“If I was going to work for the next 10-years it wouldn’t be a problem.”

For this reason, and to cover potential funeral costs, her partner Janko Stojanovski has set up a GoFundMe.

To donate, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/9f7ac-lisas-cancer-fight

Originally published as Bell Park teacher Lisa Webster to fight stage four cancer diagnosis