When Sunshine Coast mother Deborah Butler was told she had stage 4 melanoma, she felt numb with fear.
“I was devasted because I had two gorgeous six-year-old daughters and I didn’t want them to grow up without a mother,” Mrs Butler said.
“They were too young to watch me die and I had so much to teach them.”
The 54-year-old Golden Beach resident is sharing her story to increase melanoma awareness and urged locals not to put off their annual skin check.
It comes as Wishlist funds a $9,837 research project for an Australian-first pilot study into the early treatment of skin cancer at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH).
“Identification and treatment of early skin cancer is vital to keep people safe from the effects of advanced cancer,” Mrs Butler said.
“If my daughters ever get skin cancer I want the very best early detection and treatment options available to them. Cancer is complicated and research is essential to protecting families from the devastation that advance cancer causes.
“I’m grateful and proud that Wishlist has funded research in this area.”
In October 2017, Mrs Butler went to her doctor because a mole had become ‘scaly’. Following a biopsy, she was diagnosed with melanoma – stage 1B.
Despite a 1.4% chance of the cancer spreading, Mrs Butler was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma in August 2019 when tumours were detected in her brain.
“Thankfully, the treatment for melanoma has advanced significantly in the last five years, to the point where approximately 40% of people with advanced melanoma can survive for longer than five years if they get the right treatment,” Mrs Butler said.
Following an arduous journey of medication, immunotherapy, radiosurgery and radiation, Mrs Butler’s scans have shown the tumours are now inactive and shrinking.
“The treatment that I received at SCUH has been exceptional, with the equipment to conduct nearly all of my treatment locally.
“This is really important because travelling to Brisbane for treatment can become really problematic – you need someone to drive you there and back, or you have to relocate.”
“The staff at SCUH have been nothing but wonderful in their care for me. I was petrified when my husband Adrian and I arrived for my first appointment at the Adem Crosby Centre, but every time I walk into the centre now I feel at peace and protected.
“I have no doubt that the excellent care that I have had at SCUH has saved my life.”
Wishlist CEO Lisa Rowe said more than $270,000 worth of funding had been directed to research projects this financial year, including $9,837 towards the skin cancer pilot study headed by Senior Medical Officer and SCUH Head of Dermatology Dr Leith Banney.
“It is vital that we continue to grow our funding commitment for research here on the Sunshine Coast and we are very excited to fund Dr Banney’s project which is comparing two treatments for early skin cancer,” Ms Rowe said.
“This research will hopefully find whether a specific combination cream treatment for early skin cancer lesions is more effective and better tolerated than standard skin cancer treatment.
“According to statistics, two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70, so this research will definitely benefit locals and enhance treatment on the Coast.”
Wishlist has directed more than $4 million towards the support of local cancer patients including the $1.4 million multidisciplinary Cancer Centre which opened at Nambour Hospital in 2006, the fit-out of the gym dedicated to Adem Crosby Centre patients at SCUH, and the ongoing provision of affordable accommodation at Reed House and Wishlist House.
Wishlist’s latest project Wishlist Centre (to open next year) will offer cancer patients and others a comfortable and supportive environment for patients who are receiving ongoing medical treatment.
To find out more on how Wishlist supports patients and their families, visit wishlist.org.au.
