A LAKE Macquarie woman who survived a gynaecological cancer and who now writes and speaks on the subject to support women facing similar challenges will present two community talks on the subject at Charlestown.
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Denise Sweeney, of Whitebridge, has hosted talking road trips up the east coast of NSW, as well as around the Upper Hunter.
She will present a couple of talks closer to home, in October, at Charlestown Library.
Her cancer experience was unusual as her primary cancer was adenocarcinoma endometrial cancer, the most common type of gynaecological cancer, but it returned four months later as clear cell endometrial cancer, a rare and aggressive type of cancer with a poor prognosis.
"At the time of my diagnosis I was doing my Masters of Health Psychology which equipped me with the skills I needed to help me cope," Ms Sweeney said.
She will describe the steps she took to help give herself the best chance of surviving as she underwent major surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
"I'm a 10-year cancer survivor this year, after beating the odds to survive, and I'll talk about my recovery from the side effects of treatment as well as how I keep myself healthy," she said.
"Having one type of cancer doesn't mean you stop screening for other types of cancer and that's why I include cancer screening as one of the ways I keep myself healthy."
She said being active had played a big part in her recovery.
She now enjoys tai chi and is a certified qigong and tai chi instructor.
At the conclusion of each of her talks she invites women to join in with five minutes of gentle qigong exercises.
Her story is documented in her published memoir, Steps to Survival Gynaecological Cancers: Raising Awareness and My Own Private Battle. The foreword is written by Dr Geoff Otton, a gynaecologic oncologist.
Ms Sweeney's talks will be held in the meeting room of Charlestown Library on Thursday, October 24, from 6pm to 8pm; and Saturday, October 26, from 1pm to 3pm.
The talks are free and open to all women regardless of their type of cancer.
For further information and to register go to stepstosurvival.com.au
