Kellie Finlayson reveals how she is making the most of her life while “living on borrowed time” during cancer battle

After spending the past two years battling bowel cancer, Kellie Finlayson is determined to make the most of the time she has left.

Two years ago, aged 25 and just three months after giving birth to her daughter, Kellie Finlayson’s bowel cancer diagnosis completely changed her life.

The young mum and wife of Port star Jeremy Finlayson is currently undergoing a six-month round of chemotherapy but refuses to let it stop her from making the most of her life.

“I’m lucky to wake up each day, but realistically, I’m living on borrowed time, so I just make the most of it,” she said.

Speaking with former Miss Universe Australia Olivia Molly Rogers on the ‘Tell Me More’ podcast, Ms Finlayson opened up about her plans for the future according to her “living list.”

“I felt like while I’m alive, it’s a living list and I need to live with intent to tick these things off,” she said.

“So each year I make sure to tick off at least two things on my list: whether that’s going to the farm to see my family more often, that’s obviously a big priority for me or if it’s going to Africa.

“This year is [to] see one of my best friends get married, which is happening in November, which is fantastic. So that’s one thing that I’m taking off.

“I really also want to get to Japan and want to go skiing in Japan.

“So whether that happens or not, I don’t know but I think it’s gonna probably be December.”

Ms Finlayson also hopes to take her daughter Sophia to Disneyland before she turns five.

Kellie Finlayson hopes to travel with her husband Jeremy and daughter Sophia overseas. Picture: Tom Huntley

Speaking candidly about her ongoing cancer battle, she also revealed how sharing her journey publicly as an advocate has helped her find purpose.

“I don’t live with the fear of mortality, so I think that that makes it easier and being able to speak about it knowing [how many lives are saved] through simple conversations,” she said.

“I think the impact that I’m able to have positively also impacts my own life positively, like knowing that I am quite literally hope, me just walking through the streets is hope for so many other people, millions of people is so good.

“Originally my purpose was my child and my family.

“Now I have so many people that are so invested and even if they’re not, even if they just hear something for a couple of moments on a podcast or radio show, or don’t even know who I am but they hear a snippet of what I’ve been through and that then initiates them to trust their own gut or listen to their initial intuition, like that’s two seconds that I’ve spoken to save someone’s life … it’s incredible.”

Originally published as Kellie Finlayson reveals how she is making the most of her life while “living on borrowed time” during cancer battle