Startling Truth: cancer is not a rite of passage for the elderly—young Australians are being diagnosed, and Jessica’s story puts a face to a rising trend.
More young Australians are facing uncertain futures after cancers once thought to affect mainly older people are showing up in younger patients. Doctors say environmental factors may be playing a role, and Jessica’s brave story aims to spark change. At 35, she is undergoing chemotherapy for an exceptionally rare form of ovarian cancer.
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“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t terrified. But alongside that fear comes a fierce will to fight this cancer,” she told 7NEWS.
The road to treatment was long and distressing.
“I approached a few doctors who told me I was too young for cancer, that it’s generally seen in older people. I was even told it could be a stomach ulcer,” she recalls.
Jessica knew something was wrong. Coming from a family with a strong cancer history, she trusted her instincts as the mass grew. By October 31 of last year, she was admitted to hospital with a 30-centimetre tumor that had displaced her organs.
“They removed the tumor along with my right ovary and right fallopian tube. Tests showed I have an exceptionally rare cancer,” she explains.
The tumor weighed 13 kilograms and was roughly the size of a watermelon.
“Being 35 and being dismissed so often is disappointing. I’m proof that cancer doesn’t discriminate by age,” she says.
She believes earlier intervention could have changed the course of her diagnosis.
“So if we come in with symptoms, listen to us and push for further testing. That could mean the difference between stage one and stages three or four,” she emphasizes.
Cancer is rising among younger Australians, a trend echoed by Jessica’s experience.
Rates of several cancers are increasing in younger people: ovarian cancer up 30%, breast cancer up 50%, and bowel cancer up 71%. Increases are also seen in prostate, pancreatic, and liver cancers.
Dr. Sanjeev Kumar, a breast medical oncologist, witnesses the shift firsthand.
“Compared to the 1980s, there are now about double the number of breast cancers diagnosed in women under 40,” he notes.
The National Breast Cancer Foundation adds that around a thousand Australian women under 40 are diagnosed with new breast cancers each year.
He points out that screening programs often miss women under 40, so younger patients are frequently diagnosed after symptoms appear, sometimes at more advanced stages.
The reasons behind the rise are complex. “Environmental factors—what people eat, smoking, drinking, and exercise—likely interact in complex ways to contribute to more cases among younger people,” he says.
His advice to young Australians is clear: stay vigilant. “For my patients, I want young women to be more breast aware, prudent about personal risk, and proactive about testing,” he says.
Jessica is halfway through a 12-round chemotherapy course. Side effects have been brutal—cold sensitivity, persistent neuropathy with pins and needles, muscle aches, fatigue, and nausea—taking a heavy toll on her life.
Before her diagnosis, she was healthy, active, and devoted to bodybuilding. Now, some days she can barely walk, yet she remains determined.
“Ovarian cancer, I picked a fight with the wrong woman,” she declares.
Her fight is no longer only for herself. “I’m fighting for women across Australia and globally, and even young men, that this can happen. I’m living proof,” she says.
Her message is simple:
Ladies, when something doesn’t feel right, fight for it.
She emphasizes the need to recognize we are in a global cancer epidemic and that young people must break through age barriers.
Jessica is sharing her journey publicly to raise awareness and help others facing similar battles. Donations to support her treatment and recovery can be made via her GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/Rare-ovarian-cancer-treatment?attributionid=sl:8c749634-4205-45b6-b0e1-6297c2242f51&lang=enAU&ts=1771395011&utmcampaign=fpsharesheet&utmmedium=customer&utmsource=email
“I’m a fighter, and I’ll fight this,” she affirms.
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