Liz Tse
Recent articles by Liz Tse
At 19 years old, Elizabeth was juggling full-time work and full-time study when she was diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2017. Doctors initially suspected osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, and spoke to Elizabeth about the possibility of amputating her leg. “I remember being completely overwhelmed,” Elizabeth says. “I was only 19. I was trying to build my […]
This August, Cancer Council Community Ambassador Heather is taking part in the Daffodil Day Dip, encouraging Australians to brave the cold and raise funds for cancer research. For Heather, the challenge is more than jumping into cold water. It’s an opportunity to support a cause close to her heart, following her diagnosis of ovarian cancer in 2007. “There’s something truly fulfilling about taking on a challenge for a […]
Keri’s mum was only 45 when she was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, an aggressive type of cancer in the glandular lining inside the organs. The doctors told her there was nothing they could do and suggested she head home to spend time with her family. But that wasn’t an option her mum was willing to accept. “I have a family,” she […]
For Sebastian, the hardest part of an extremely rare cancer diagnosis was not the treatment, but managing the complexities associated with the diagnosis. Sebastian’s mediastinal mixed-germ cell tumour – a very rare hybrid – was discovered only after a CT scan intended to rule out a blood clot took place. “I am not sure I ‘felt’ anything other than immense frustration at first,” […]
Paediatric doctor Priyal was 34 when she received news that completely blindsided her: a breast cancer diagnosis. “I still remember how underprepared I was when the radiologist came into the room with a grim look on his face, pointing to the picture of the scan saying, ‘that’s cancer’,” says Priyal. Priyal had two children and was breastfeeding with her […]
When Laura was first diagnosed with cervical cancer, it was the last thing she expected. “I didn’t know anything about cancer,” she says. “I’d never had any experience with it in my family or among friends. You just don’t think it’s something that will happen to you.” Like many women, Laura’s symptoms were passed over as they were similar to what women […]
When Kon Galanis reflects on the past decade of his life, the word that comes up again and again is resilience. A Senior Business Analyst based in Sydney, Kon had built a busy career and family life when everything began to change. Within a short period, he was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s disease, and then bowel cancer. “In 2017, I was 41 […]
Matilda was just nine years old when her life changed with a devastating cancer diagnosis. Growing up near Albury, regional NSW, she loved gymnastics and spending time with her siblings. But a persistent pain in her ankle, which was dismissed for months, would eventually lead to the diagnosis of stage four bone cancer. At the […]
Former Mayor of Lismore, long‑time community advocate, and dedicated Cancer Council volunteer Jenny Dowell died on March 24, 2026, surrounded by her loving family, including her husband of 46 years Ron, children Georgina and Tim, and her sister Robyn In the final week of her life, Jenny sat down with Cancer Council to reflect on her cancer experience and the cause that […]
When Christina noticed a subtle change in her breast one evening while caring for her young daughter, cancer was the furthest thing from her mind. “I put it down to breastfeeding,” she says. “But the texture felt different, so I decided to get it checked.” Weeks later, after scans, a biopsy and an urgent recall from her GP, Christina was diagnosed with […]