BEATING CANCER with morning tea!
Gayle is keen to give back after surviving five cancers
Gayle Dean says she is “consciously grateful” to be alive after battling ve di erent types of cancer and losing 11 organs over the past 30 years.
e 71-year-old grandmother of 10 from Sydney’s Northern Beaches is sharing her unique story on behalf of the Cancer Council in the lead-up to its Biggest Morning Tea to spread awareness for cancer research.
BRAVELY BATTLING
Gayle’s rst battle with cancer began in 1991 when she decided to get a mammogram while out shopping with a friend. A concerning lump on her breast was found.
“We sat down on the grass outside the clinic just trying to cope with what I’d been told, and of course I was instructed to go straight to a specialist,” she says. “I was completely shocked. I had no symptoms at all.”
Since her rst diagnosis, Gayle has fought another bout of breast cancer, along with uterine cancer, a pelvic tumour and kidney cancer. As a result, she had a double mastectomy and 26 lymph nodes, her uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, gallbladder and left kidney removed. Despite her many duels with cancer, the retired teacher says she no longer feels the same fear she did when her journey rst started.
“To me, cancer is not something to be feared. I consider it a vicious enemy to be beaten,” she says.
Armed with a positive attitude,
Gayle says her battles have made her more emotionally strong and have given her a platform to advocate for more cancer research and support for patients. “I’ve always believed that it could be beaten, and have always believed I’ll never lose,” she tells.
‘I consider cancer a vicious enemy to be beaten’
JUST GO WITH IT
Gayle also notes that she’s never been alone throughout her journey, with her second husband Peter, her kids and members of her church always o ering a helping hand.
According to Gayle, the most important thing to do if you’re diagnosed with cancer is to accept any help o ered to you, build a small but strong support network and follow the doctor’s advice.
“I’m so grateful to be alive and so grateful that the therapies have worked,” she says.