The Swallows Australian Edition Magazine

It even happens in
the Bush
- Vicki Provost
One morning when I was at work in a local
aged care facility in Taree, NSW, working as a
nursing assistant, one of the residents gave
me a hug good morning and squeezed me
around my face. It really hurt and I realised a
lump I had noticed just in front of my right ear
was not only getting bigger but was painful.
Over the previous six years it had increased
from the size of a pea to a small marble. I had
returned to my GP numerous times over the
years, who sent me for ultrasounds and a CT
scan. Nothing came out of these tests, other
than it being a cyst.
One day I woke up and the right side of my
face was numb and my right eye felt like it had
sand in it. That’s when everything happened in
fast motion. I was referred to a local specialist
who did an MRI, then in turn referred me to the
Chris O’Brien Lifehouse in Camperdown
Sydney, into the brilliant care of Assoc. Prof.
Jonathan Clark. My wonderful head and neck
surgeon was concerned about my irritated eye
and an operation was scheduled. It was
malignant, adenoid cystic carcinoma, or
salivary gland cancer – 80% are benign, mine
was not.
The cancer had run along my facial nerves
damaging two, so after my operation I couldn’t
close my eyelid. Five weeks later I had another
operation to insert a gold weight into my eyelid
so I could blink. Then 20 rounds of radiation,
that was the hard part – mouth ulcers, sore
throat, burning/peeling skin, weight loss,
nausea, vomiting, trismus (minimal mouth
opening) and (hooray) puree food!!! But
through it all I had the most brilliant doctors
helping and guiding me, every problem I had
they seemed to have a solution to make things
a little easier, including emotional support.
“I feel so lucky we have
such an incredible facility
with the most dedicated
and compassionate
medical professionals”
My husband became my carer and never
flinched at any point, not once, and 35 years of
marriage put us in good stead for the road in
front of us. My wonderful children enveloped
me in love and support, along with my close
network of friends I held onto. My employer
Anglican Care supported me all the way
through and especially my boss Karen. I got
back to work gradually. A few hours a week at
first, until I regained my strength. My scans are
clear, next review now 12 months away.
The Chris O’Brien Lifehouse was initially a very
frightening place, full of uncertainty and
disbelief, but in time it became a place of
comfort, of positivity and, most importantly, of
hope. I feel so lucky we have such an
incredible facility with the most dedicated and
compassionate medical professionals. It gives
me hope for the future.
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