The damage and impact which cancer has on the world knows no boundaries.
Star News journalist Matthew Sims spoke to three locals about how cancer has affected them ahead of this year’s Daffodil Day.
Held on Thursday 31 August, Cancer Council’s Daffodil Day event supports life-saving cancer research.
Clyde North resident Carla Johnson lost both of her parents to cancer and has dedicated herself to helping raise awareness with the help of her local community.
“Unfortunately, cancer affects many people,” she said.
“Watching them go through the treatment through to the end stage was incredibly difficult.”
What started as a breast cancer diagnosis for her mother quickly spread into her chest wall and into her esophagus, a battle which lasted longer than five years.
“I can’t believe how strong she was,” Ms Johnson said.
“She tried to hide her pain from everyone.”
She has helped run a number of online auctions and other fundraising events for Daffodil Day since her parents’ deaths, with her most recent auction running throughout August raising about $400, with items and services donated by local businesses.
Ms Johnson said she was grateful for the support of local individuals and businesses, including Team Anita and Harpreet, Leslie Enright and Divinity Candles.
“To me, it means nothing without the business who have supported me,” she said.
“My plans wouldn’t have gone anywhere without them.
“They’re the reason it happened.”
Cancer Council Victoria fundraising head Lyrian Fleming-Parsley said cancer has affected everyone in one way or another.
“Cancer takes so much – from all of us,” she said.
“It takes from our friends, neighbours, colleagues, and our family.
“By giving this Daffodil Day, we can help stop cancer from taking so much.”
Berwick residents Andrew and Sheila Downey have raised more than $120,000 through their regular cupcake sales via the ‘Sheila & Andrew’s Cupcakes’ Facebook page, selling more than 50,000 cupcakes since first starting more than 10 years ago.
Mrs Downey was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 after a routine breast screening.
“It was a pretty big shock,” she said.
Mrs Downey said she did not receive chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment, but had a mastectomy and later had a breast reconstruction.
“It’s very rare not to have chemo or radio,” she said.
“I’m a very big advocate to have an early breast screen and skin checks.
“I feel very lucky.”
Mrs Downey said the journey had allowed her to appreciate life and living life appreciating others.
“It think it made me a better person,” she said.
“It’s an absolute team effort.
“I couldn’t do it without Andrew.”
Mr Downey said they had no plans to stop baking cupcakes to raise funds for Cancer Council Victoria and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation.
“We haven’t got sick of it,” he said.
“We have a loyal following.”
Berwick resident Heather Callahan’s cancer journey began suddenly when she was told there were abnormalities in scans following an innocuous back injury in 2018.
Further scans then found a cyst in one of her kidneys.
Ms Callahan said she was “extremely fortunate” to have Scott Donnellan as her urologist and that the cancer was discovered early, leading to the kidney being removed.
“It’s not great to get a cancer diagnosis,” she said.
Ms Callahan’s diagnosis was made more shocking because it was the same cancer found in her father who died in 1995 about four days after first learning of his disease.
“He had no treatment,” she said.
“There was nothing indicated to us that it could have been genetic.”
“I had none of the markers for it.”
Ms Callahan has recently been named as ‘clear’ as she has surpassed the five-year mark since her treatment and her remaining kidney has grown stronger.
“You have a different outlook on life,” she said.
“It probably gives you a clearer picture.
“It gives me a very different outlook.”
Ms Callahan said seeking resources and support from Cancer Council was invaluable to her during and after her father’s passing and during her own cancer journey.
“I wanted to understand what happened to Dad,” she said.
“They’ve got resources for you to be able to access.”
Ms Callahan said the loss of her father was extremely difficult.
“I was quite close to my dad,” she said.
“I’d never lost anyone close to me.
“I think it made me more determined to not let me stop achieving in life.
“You can let it determine you or make it motivate you.”
To support Daffodil Day, visit www.daffodilday.com.au or phone 1300 65 65 85.
