Nell Thompson is not the sum of her hardships.
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After being diagnosed with cervical cancer at age 23, Ms Thompson has been left with a landslide of concerns and the stark reality she might never have children.
Despite this, the young Heddon Greta woman stands proud today as the Hunter ambassador for Daffodil Day – one of the Cancer Council’s largest fund-raising initiatives.
“I used to think if you were healthy and did the right things you would be fine, you
wouldn’t get sick, but I was healthy and I still got sick,” Ms Thompson, now 26, said.
“Before this I always looked after myself, but I didn’t value life so much whereas now I realise what’s important. I know that’s a cliche, but it’s also very true.
“Cancer puts a whole new spin on your life.”
It’s been three years since her diagnosis, but in the preceding five years Ms Thompson knew something was wrong.
“It was a difficult one because it didn’t manifest itself as a normal cervical cancer case. But I know my own body, so I knew something wasn’t right,” she said.
Following this diagnosis, Ms Thompson’s cervix was removed, along with the surrounding tissue, part of her uterus and some of her lymph nodes.
“I have a significantly decreased chance of having children now and that’s sad at my age but I’m just happy to be alive really,” Ms Thompson said.
“I was really lucky that we caught the cancer when we did because this could have been fatal.
“So things could have been so much worse,”
Two years ago Ms Thompson shaved her head to raise thousands of dollars for cancer research and, while she remains cancer-free, the scars are emotional as well as physical.
“The thing with cancer is that when the physical part ends it keeps affecting you mentally and emotionally,” she said.
“But I feel very grateful because there are so many people who don’t get through it.
“Everybody wants to find a cure for cancer, that’s why Daffodil Day is so important.
“So when I see someone wearing a Daffodil Day pin I get a little bit happy inside to think that that person is at least thinking about the struggle I and others have been through.”