Belmont mum Jessica Hunter shares ‘gruelling’ cancer journey

A Belmont mum has shared the pain of being unable to hug her son for months as she dealt with a “gruelling and daunting” cancer battle.

A Belmont mother has shared her “gruelling and daunting” experience of having rectal cancer, and the toll it took on her young son.

38-year-old Jessica Hunter has battled rectal cancer twice, and was diagnosed with stage 4 in December 2020.

Jessica Hunter with her husband, son Lucas, 8, and family dog.

This time, the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes and adrenal glands, and Ms Hunter had to undergo 12 rounds of chemotherapy, six weeks of radiation and three surgeries in her fight.

She said not knowing if she would be around for her eight-year-old son Lucas was the most difficult part.

“I was really concerned about being around for him, and my husband,” Ms Hunter said.

“That kid is so resilient, I’m so proud of him.

“When we told him I had cancer, we didn’t hide what I was going to go through.

“He had to go to schools knowing his mum was going in to hospital for a big surgery.”

Now in remission, Ms Hunter said Lucas is happy to have his mum back to her old self.

She said they jump on the trampoline together, and go on runs, but enjoy showing affection the most.

“He loves that now we can do that stuff again,” she said.

Jessica Hunter and her 10-year-old labrador Molly. Picture: Alan Barber

“Because of all my surgeries, it hurt to be hugged … he was afraid to hug me.

“Now, he can hug me again.”

Ms Hunter said the treatments she went through took a toll on her, and she had some difficult days and weeks.

“The treatments were gruelling,” she said.

“It’s hard … you’ve got to be careful with everything.

“And doing it in the middle of a pandemic, that was daunting as well.

“I ended up having surgery to remove the tumour from my rectum, and having a stoma bag (a medical device for the collection of waste) which was pretty daunting.

“They had to remove my ovaries, so I’m menopausal which has been an adjustment.

“I’m still very much learning to live with the lifelong side effects.”

Ms Hunter said support services available to her through Bowel Cancer Australia, which receives funds from Dry July fundraising, were invaluable.

“I had access to a chemist and nutritionist,” she said.

“Having someone that specialises in and understands what you’re dealing with is really, really helpful … it makes it less stressful.

“What Dry July are doing is just amazing.

“I know the difference (Bowel Cancer Australia) has made for me, and I want other people to have that as well.

“I can’t imagine what would happen if we could get more funding … how many people could feel the impact.”

To donate, visit dryjuly.com/ or bowelcanceraustralia.org/

Originally published as Belmont mum Jessica Hunter shares ‘gruelling’ cancer journey