“I told the kids, if we weren’t going to get our big miracle, we could see a million miracles along the way. And to be honest, that has been our whole thing, that we’ll seek out the million little miracles along the way.”
With an 800-acre cattle property, 20 sheep, two alpacas, five goats, 10 chooks, two dogs and 200 beehives on the way, Monique Perry is no longer the “city girl” she once described herself as.
Together with childhood sweetheart-turn-hubby, Andrew, “a country boy” and builder, Monique is now cocooned by the love of her four children—Julia, Ella, Shania and Alex—and the fresh air of their Anduramba property on the Darling Downs.
The rural setting is proving a healing space for Monique and her family after the horrid diagnosis in 2021 of triple negative breast cancer, an aggressive and fast-growing cancer with a high risk of metastasis and recurrence.
Having lost her mother at ovarian cancer at just 52, and a registered nurse inclined to “look at the numbers”, Monique was aware of the dire odds she faced.
Cue a miraculous intervention. A life-saving immunotherapy trial, conducted by Mater Research, enabled Monique to return home to her family cancer-free—following a gruelling treatment journey that has included chemotherapy, a mastectomy, radiation and a total hysterectomy.
This January, Monique, 43, is due to reach her significant two-year cancer free milestone with bi-annual ultrasounds to follow.
“I will love all of the women at Mater Cancer Care Centre (MCCC) for the rest of my life, they saved my life,” Monique said.
“I can’t fault Mater. I’ve been in a lot of hospitals, being on the patient side I can’t honestly fault the MCCC unit.
“I will love all of the women at Mater Cancer Care Centre (MCCC) for the rest of my life, they saved my life,” Monique said.
“I can’t fault Mater. I’ve been in a lot of hospitals, being on the patient side I can’t honestly fault the MCCC unit. The nurses are beautiful. ‘KM’ (MCCC Medical Oncologist, Dr Kathryn Middleton) is exceptional. Emma (Breast and Endocrine Surgeon, Dr Emma Clarkson) is exceptional.
“If I could give them a million bucks, I definitely would. That’s how I feel. I want to get that message out about the misconception with trials. A lot of people have got in their brain that trials is a ‘lab rat’ type thing, but don’t be scared of a trial. I have never felt more supported in my life.
“I told the kids, if we weren’t going to get our big miracle, we could see a million miracles along the way. And to be honest, that has been our whole thing, that we’ll seek out the million little miracles along the way.”
