Danielle's survival of Cancer and Identity - CVQ. Agm

Cancer Voices Qld. first annual general meeting, August 14, was attended by mainly executive and intrastate committee members, and small band of general membership, held at the Heart Foundation Offices, Brisbane.
Following opening report by Chair Leonie Young, cancer survivor Danielle Tindle, presented her path in her life of cancer and identity. Struck down aged 22 years, diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, with a tumor the size of a football in her chest, and smaller lumps in neck and abdomen. Danielle went on to described how she has been able to modify her life to the demands cancer has made on her. As a teenager, Danielle was ready to party and enjoy life to the full. Her ideals in fashion and outlook were changed radically when cancer treatment took away all her hair, modifying her life presentation to include a wig, permanently. "I'm not who I was, but can't relate to anyone else; I don't know who I am becoming, or even If I will live. Who am I" Danielle exclaimed.
Now 28 years, Danielle took her audience through various stages of life-changing scenarios, where she had to re-appraise herself and future directions in life, trying to understand how objectives were seen for patients through the eyes of your GP/Specialists, and the questions posed by patients to help in their identity.
Now employed with Leukaemia Foundation Australia, Danielle is researching and developing a national education support program for young people affected by blood cancer. Special Grants have allowed Danielle to tour United Kingdom and Ireland health research centres, where similar programs are assisting teenage cancer/tumor
patients; reviewing the treatments received and how these centres are achieving results. Geoff.