Dear Family and Friends, 

I have decided to make a difference by taking part in the ‘You Are Beautiful’ Fundraising Photographic Exhibition to raise funds for Cancer Support WA. Cancer Support WA helps individuals and families dealing with Cancer by providing support services and the only 24 hour Cancer Support phone line in Australia.

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL is a unique photographic exhibition and book project celebrating the life and stories of people touched by cancer. Organised by Cancer Support WA in partnership with master photographer Janet Craig and other sponsors, the purpose of You are Beautiful is to bring awareness to the untold stories of people with cancer, and to raise funds for Cancer Support WA.

Through here you can easily support my efforts by sponsoring my portrait, by making a secure donation online. I would also really appreciate it if you could share my page above or comment below so more people know about it.

Click 'Donate Now' to make a secure online donation. 

All donations over $2 are tax deductible and you will be issued with a DGR receipt via email as soon as you make a donation, which can be used at Tax time.

Cancer Support WA is hoping to raise $200,000.00. Your donation will help us reach this goal and the images will be displayed in a public exhibition in 2016. Details of the exhibition will be emailed to you closer to the date.

Please find below the story behind my image.

Thank you for your support!

MY STORY

My name is Angela Hargreaves and I was diagnosed with oral cancer on 22 October 2013 at the age of 52.  I had just returned to the office after our usual staff meeting when I received a call that would turn my life upside down.  The caller was my ENT specialist. He was reluctant to tell me the diagnosis of my biopsy over the phone.  With his hesitation, I knew already.  Cancer.  I called my partner.  He couldn’t believe it.  I was supposed to be the healthy one.  As a non smoking, non drinking, vegetarian I thought my healthy lifestyle would save me from such a diagnosis.  I have always been careful with my health or so I thought.  My much loved father died of cancer at the age of 58 and up to the end of his life he tried to put on a brave front to protect me.  He knew how much he meant to me.  My father was a very strong and beautiful soul I shall never forget.   He made a huge impact on my life leaving me with some very special memories.  I have always remembered his struggle with cancer and hoped to avoid this in my life, however, here I am with the diagnosis and of all places on my tongue.

Then came the questions ‘what did I do wrong?’  I became obsessed to find answers.

Prior to the diagnosis, I had experienced a small lesion on the right side of my tongue for some months.  At first, I thought I had bitten my tongue whilst sleeping.  This was in late 2012.  I visited various specialists but no answers were given as to why I was experiencing pain.  To cut a long story short, given my diet, being a non smoker, and a non drinker, specialists thought the sore was unlikely to be cancer as this type of cancer normally affects male smokers over 60.  Specialists offered solutions to numb the pain and suggested changing my toothpaste.  I decided to grind my teeth back just in case there was a sharpness that was causing the issue.  I changed toothpaste.  I gargled with product.  Nothing worked.  After some time, and going through the medical roundabouts, I could not eat on the right side of my mouth due to the pain.  I had to tilt my head to one side to eat.  My throat had now started to close up and I was finding it difficult to swallow normal food.  I was frustrated that if something is causing this much of a problem it is something serious but I couldn’t get anyone to listen until I visited the last specialist David Hall, ENT Subiaco and he listened.  Everyone is different and David is a believer in trusting patient instincts and he followed up.  I was starting to think the specialists thought I was some crazy lady.

The following week after the diagnosis was confirmed, I was full of fear of the unknown as it was not clear how far the cancer had progressed.   We are all aware that death will eventually meet us but a new kind of awareness happens when you realise you are not immortal.  The shock of this changes you.  Over this scariest part of my life, I clung to my partner, Peter and this calmed me.  All through my ups and downs of emotions I was fortunate to have Peter by my side.  He said he felt helpless to help me when I was in pain and wished for the pain to be his. I struggled between fear, pain and not wishing to hurt Peter all mixed up with the fact that I wanted to tell the universe that I hadn’t finished living yet.

During surgery a small portion of my tongue was removed as well as the lymph nodes/tissue in my neck.  At some point during waiting for tests and surgery I felt a sense of peace come over me or maybe I had become accustomed to the process.  The board of surgeons decided that I did not require chemotherapy or radiation given that it was a very early stage cancer.

It is now late May 2014 and my speech is now clearer due to the swelling on my tongue being reduced.  The tissue absence has not hugely impacted on my speech although my tongue still feels strange.  The neck scar although quite long and extends from the back of my neck to the front is healing well and will eventually look like a neck crease.  I feel grateful.  I was lucky, very lucky, my cancer was T1. 

If I could give any advice it would be to be your own doctor, know your own body and when it is not functioning properly.  Don’t just have your mouth checked for cavities, check for unusual changes in the mouth.  Check this site for further information  http://www.evagrayzel.com/about/six-step-screening where you can read Eva Grayzel's story regarding her survival of  Stage IV Oral Cancer  diagnosed at the age of 33.  A non smoker.  I remember emailing Eva in America in the early hours when all problems seem to come to haunt you. For me it is usually 3.00am in the morning. 

The big plan now is to live a well and happy life with my partner Peter.  We are planning a less hectic future and building a home in the country.  Sometimes you just have to rethink your life.

Keep well, be happy and look after yourself and others

Angela