In loving memory of Tanya

Bessie

Our beautiful mum, Bessie, was diagnosed with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in early October 2025. From that moment, our family began a journey filled with hope, strength, love and many challenges.

Before beginning treatment, Mum had clips placed near the tumours and affected lymph nodes to help guide her treatment. Shortly afterwards, she commenced chemotherapy and immunotherapy. However, in November 2025, Mum was hospitalised, and we later discovered that she was unable to continue with immunotherapy due to a pre-existing autoimmune disorder.

Mum’s treatment plan was changed to chemotherapy, but she faced further complications when her port-a-cath became infected, resulting in another hospital admission. Despite everything she endured, Mum continued to fight. She then underwent surgery to remove the cancerous tumours and affected lymph nodes before moving on to a course of radiation therapy.

Following radiation, Mum underwent a series of scans and tests to assess how well the treatment had worked. Sadly, the results were not what we had hoped for. We received the devastating news that the cancer had spread to a spot on her liver and several areas of her bones.

Mum continued to face more challenges when she developed dental abscesses and needed to have teeth removed. Once she had recovered, the plan was for her to begin chemotherapy tablets to help slow the progression of the cancer and give her the opportunity to spend more precious time living her life. We were hopeful that this treatment could help Mum maintain her quality of life for another 18 months to two years.

Sadly, things did not go to plan.

Mum was taken to hospital by one of her daughters, and we soon found ourselves facing another frightening and uncertain situation. We waited for scans to be carried out, but the timing kept changing. Mum’s condition was deteriorating, and she was struggling to eat and maintain the strength her body so desperately needed.

During her hospital stay, the Medical Emergency Team (MET) was called twice. As a family, we also reached out through Ryan’s Rule because we were deeply concerned about Mum’s condition and wanted to ensure our concerns were heard.

Heartbreakingly, despite everything Mum had endured and fought through, our beautiful Mum passed away on 10 October 2026.

Our family has been left with an enormous hole in our hearts. We share Mum’s story to honour her life, her strength and her courage throughout this devastating journey. No family should have to watch someone they love go through so much pain, fear and uncertainty.

Mum was so much more than her diagnosis. She was our beautiful mum, and she will forever be loved, missed and remembered.