Ellenbrook resident, Scott Macmillan, is urging West Australians to support cancer research by donating to Daffodil Day 2024, after losing his wife Samantha to bowel cancer in 2023 when she was just 38 years old.
Mr Macmillan said as newlyweds and first-time parents, Samantha's devastating diagnosis of stage four bowel cancer in 2017 at the age of 31 was a shock to their young family.
"Samantha's symptoms started out as stomach cramps, similar to having a period," Scott said.
"She had tiredness, but she associated this with having our new baby son Harlan. Then, at a friend's wedding, Samantha complained about stomach cramps so severe that she took herself to hospital. She knew something didn't feel quite right."
While Samantha was in hospital overnight, doctors identified a growth in her lower intestine, which was subsequently diagnosed as bowel cancer.
Scott said that for a family that had everything in front of them, he and Samantha were overwhelmed by her terminal diagnosis.
"We'd been newly married in 2015 and then had our baby boy Harlan in 2016, so to then get this diagnosis was a big kick in the guts," Scott said.
"We had envisioned to continue to add to our own family, two or three kids were on the cards. All future thoughts we had just grinded to a halt."
With doctors giving her three-to-five years to live, Samantha was determined to keep as mentally and physically active as possible for her son Harlan.
However, after undertaking several rounds of chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy, Samantha's treatments stopped working, and in June 2023, she passed away.
Scott is now using the family's cancer journey to encourage the WA community to help local cancer researchers achieve ground-breaking discoveries.
"I urge the WA community to get behind Daffodil Day," he said.
"With your support, we can help local researchers who are working tirelessly to achieve ground-breaking discoveries that bring forward the day we stop cancer, so families won't have to go through what we went through."
Cancer Council WA CEO Ashley Reid said Scott and Samantha's story is a reminder that cancer can strike anyone at any time.
"Despite advances made in research and improving survival rates for many cancers, we know that almost one in two Australians will be diagnosed by the age of 85," Mr Reid said.
"This year Cancer Council is hoping to raise more than $2 million Australia-wide from Daffodil Day through fundraising and donations.
"By supporting Daffodil Day, you will help us invest in cutting-edge, life-saving research to give Australians like Scott and Harlan hope for a cancer free future."
Daffodil Day will be celebrated Thursday 22 August, 2024 in WA.
