Gayle’s Story: A 30-year tale of survival, five cancers and the removal of 11 organs

As a 72-year-old cancer survivor, Gayle has experienced more than most could ever imagine.  

Spanning more than 30 years, she has survived five different types of cancer and endured numerous surgeries and treatments.  

It all started in 1991, when Gayle was 38. She was a single mother with three young children, when a spur-of-the-moment decision to have a mammogram changed the course of her life.  

“I was shopping with a friend, and mammograms had only just come in at the time. There was a big sign in front of a medical practice saying ‘free mammograms’. So, my friend and I went and had a mammogram,” says Gayle.  

“I could feel the tension in the staff once they saw mine,” she adds. 

Gayle was diagnosed with breast cancer after a 4cm tumour had been found that day in her left breast. 

These days, Gayle shares her story to raise awareness about cancer, and the importance of events like Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea to inspire and help other people affected by cancer. 

A life transformed by cancer 

Within a week of being diagnosed in 1991, Gayle had a mastectomy and soon after began six months of chemotherapy. 

“It was all a huge shock,” Gayle reflects. 

In 1996, just five years after her initial diagnosis, cancer was discovered in her other breast. This time, she underwent a second mastectomy.  

Then, in 1999, she noticed unexplained vaginal spotting.   

After some tests, Gayle was diagnosed with uterine cancer and underwent a radical hysterectomy. 

While other people were enjoying their lives, Gayle spent most of the 1990s focused on surviving.   

“After that, I was 16 years cancer free. I was reminded every day by the scars in the mirror, but cancer felt very much in the past for me,” she says. 

To her surprise, during those years, Gayle found love again. In 2002, she met a wonderful man, and they married the following year.  

The list of Gayle’s cancer diagnoses continued to grow  

In 2015, after 16 years of remission, Gayle faced another unexpected diagnosis: a pelvic tumour.  

A cyst the size of a tennis ball had formed in her abdomen with squamous cell carcinoma extensions in the cyst – an unusual and very rare form of cancer. 

Gayle had to undergo nine weeks of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This treatment successfully eradicated the cancer.  

Unfortunately, the radiotherapy damaged her healthy organs, and six months later, Gayle required a colostomy operation. She now lives with a permanent colostomy bag. 

At the end of 2022, after years without a cancer diagnosis, Gayle faced yet another challenge. During a hospital visit for a bowel blockage, doctors discovered cancer on her left kidney.  

In February 2023, she underwent surgery to remove her left kidney, marking her fifth cancer. 

Genetic testing and new insights 

Gayle’s experience with cancer led her to explore her family’s genetic history, so she and her daughter underwent genetic testing for the BRCA gene mutation in 2017. 

While Gayle was told that she carried the gene mutation, her daughter did not, much to their relief. 

Gayle has even been referred to a geneticist and has now become a case study for further research. 

Why Gayle shares her story 

Through her experiences, Gayle has learned to deeply appreciate the gift of life.  

“Every day I’m grateful to medicine, research, advances in screening and scanning. Every day has a sparkle. I’m consciously grateful to be alive,” she says. 

Despite the difficult years, Gayle says that cancer is only one part of who she is. 

“Cancer definitely doesn’t define me – it’s not the most interesting thing about me, that’s for sure,” Gayle shares. 

Now, Gayle wants to give back to the community that has supported her along the way.  

She’s passionate about helping others who are facing the same struggles she has faced over the years, and she wants to help demystify cancer for those who may be too afraid to confront it. 

Giving back and the power of storytelling  

When Gayle spoke at an Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea event in 2023, it was the first time she had shared her entire cancer story for Cancer Council.  

The experience was transformative, both for her and for those who heard her speak. 

“I felt that, because I’d been so open and honest, like about how there were times when I was angry or times when I hated everything or times when I felt full of courage, people felt connected to me,” Gayle says.  

The importance of support during tough times 

Gayle remembers the lack of support services for breast cancer patients when she was first diagnosed in 1991. 

“The matron at the hospital would have a chat, but after that, you went home and you were on your own,” Gayle reflects. 

Although the landscape of cancer support has changed over the years, Gayle believes there is still room for growth.  

“People are very vulnerable about cancer. It’s such a fearful thing for them. To hear someone say, ‘I’m okay now, I was able to find courage,’ can be really powerful,” Gayle says. 

Gayle is cancer free today, and enjoying life with her husband Peter, the five children they share and their ten grandchildren.  

And in doing so, she is giving to others the greatest gift of all – hope. 

---

If you’re interested in hosting a morning tea fundraiser, visit the Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea website. 

If you, or someone you know is living with cancer call us on 13 11 20.

Find out more about breast cancer, uterine cancer or kidney cancer.