I was to work for a few years after high school, find out what I wanted to do with my life, go to uni, get a great job, marry the man of my dreams, travel and pretty much live happily ever after.

I already had found a great job which I loved, my boss was lovely and like a second mum to me, I had found the man of my dreams. I was well on my way to having the fairytale story. But it was soon to come crashing down.

I was in bed and asleep by 10.30pm on New Years Eve, 2007. Work was full on and I was the busiest I’d ever been. I was working a lot during the Christmas/summer holidays and became fatigued and tired very quickly. I didn’t think anything of it. I found a lump the size of a baby pea and thought it was nothing so

"I ignored it and hoped it would go away"

A few months later in March, I was fighting to keep myself awake. The lump had tripled in size and I knew something was wrong but I was busy at work, a leader in youth group at my church and my best friend's wedding was quickly approaching. I kept telling myself 'it's nothing, it will go away if I don’t think about it'. That’s what I wanted to believe.

It wasn’t until I was getting my bridesmaid dress on, I thought maybe it could be something. We were up at 4am and by this stage, the lump was pushing on nerves and sending shooting pains down my leg and into my hip. We all laughed when my leg suddenly kicked out but deep down I knew I had to see a doctor. Exhausted and all dressed up, my youth minister cut in to relieve me from the bridal party waltz and make it clear to my friend that I wasn’t well.

A few weeks later in April, I saw my doctor and after 2 lots of antibiotics the lump had doubled in size and became very painful. By the third visit, in June, I left with a referral to remove the lump. The operation went well and I was due back at my doctor in 6 weeks for a check up. A week later, in July, I was called to my doctor’s office and I just thought she fitted me in early, no big deal. My doctor started to get teary and came out and said “You have cancer”.

In utter shock and disbelief, I was terrified. I left her office, my dreams and hopes shattered. Cancer doesn't care what your dreams are, it doesn't care that you are not yet married or do not have children or want to travel. My main concern was is it curable and will I be NORMAL again?

"I just wanted to be fixed"

My Mum and Dad were great and like any parents, they did anything they could to save their little girl. My Dad and I were out looking at cars one day and we stopped in at Peugeot. We took a car for a test drive and he looked over at me and said “Do you like this car?” I replied "Not really, what’s wrong with the one you have?" He responded: “I want you to fight. Fight for me, your Mum, your sister and Damien. I'm giving you my Peugeot and if you want to keep it, you need to fight. You can do it, I know you can. Fight to live. Just fight”.

A week after I was diagnosed I met my gynecologist oncologist. I had scans with names I’ve never heard, thousands of blood tests, x-rays. This is when people started with the unhelpful comments. “I won’t be coming around to see you anymore; I’m just a bit worried your cancer could be contagious.” “You’ve had so many blood tests now you should be used to it.” It doesn’t matter how many times you get blood taken it still hurts!

My second and third operations found more cancer cells sending out little satellites getting ready to spread. By October my biopsy came back from being identified in America and my team of oncology doctors was stumped and didn’t know the best way to treat my cancer. They decided, after many weeks of me waiting around, that 6 weeks of radiation would be the plan of attack. I remember thinking how long 6 weeks would be and I was so upset that I would be having treatment over Christmas.

"I needed to do something for my own sanity"

After months of being off my feet I decided with my boss to come back to work 2 weeks after my third operation. I remember saying to her ‘I promise I wont lift anything heavy or fall over or anything!!' She was great and I could only manage 4-6 hours every few days but I will be forever grateful to her.

5 weeks into my radiation I still had no symptoms of the effects until the 6th week when my skin had started to peel and was very tender. My church rallied behind me with a 48 hour prayer roster which continued through my treatment. I had a lot of support and prayer during my 6 month ordeal for which I am very thankful.

"I shut myself away from people"

This was how I could cope with things. I didn’t want my friends to know what was going on and give them a reason to worry and be scared. I didn’t message my friends and didn’t take their calls and I always said no to going out in public with them as I felt whenever I walked into a building everyone would look up and say "that’s the girl who has cancer" even if no one turned around or knew me. I never went out clothes shopping because I thought 'what’s the point? I could be dead soon' so it has taken me a long time to start feeling ‘alive’ again.

I missed out on a lot in the 6 months I was off my feet. Friends were going overseas, getting engaged, getting married, having kids and moving out of home. My world seemed to stop. A cancer diagnosis is not something you would ever expect to happen to you or anyone in your immediate circle of friends and family. So when it does happen it shatters your whole world and breaks down everything you hold dear to your heart.

I saw a lot when I was forced to put my life on hold and the small things mattered the most, like telling my friends how much I appreciated them or eating a slab of Sara Lee chocolate cake with my sister while watching NCIS or singing my favourite song at the top of my lungs. You tend to appreciate what is right in front of you. And I was no longer scared to take chances or do whatever I wanted, like wearing my PJs in public.

"I am proud to be a survivor"

Having survived treatment doesn't mean the battle is over. Another battle has begun; the fight to have an equal share in this life with other people; the fight to stand up for our rights. I know I cannot change the fact that I had cancer but I can work to make my life better than before and for others through awareness and support.