Hi, my name is Adriana and in 2023, at the age of 28, I was diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer which was also in 2 lymph nodes. My partner and I were living in Gladstone so we had to temporarily move back to Brisbane for 3 months for chemotherapy, radiation and brachytherapy. This also meant I wouldn't be able to carry my own child and had to decide on further fertility treatment. After 12 months we decided it was time to move back to Brisbane and just as we moved, during a routine follow up, I was told it had spread to my uterus. In January 2025, I had surgery for a full hysterectomy and due to the damage from radiation, they also removed my bladder and gave me a urostomy. During surgery, they knicked my rectum, and again due to the damage from radiation, they decided to give it time to heal and gave me a temporary colostomy, which I am due to have reversed hopefully in July. It's been a long road of acceptance which I am still on, as well as dealing with post surgery fluid and gas in my pelvic area causing discharge.
There is constant fear of cancer returning, as well as the change of having to live with my parents and having to rely on my partner financially as going back/finding work is a challenge.
