When Suzanne Staggard recently shared her cancer journey at an ovarian cancer awareness event held at The Bays Wellness Centre, she spoke about more than just her diagnosis and treatment.
She shared her experience to help raise awareness, offer encouragement to others facing cancer, and highlight the difference that compassionate care close to home can make during some of life’s most challenging moments.
In February 2023, Suzanne first presented to her GP believing she was experiencing diverticulitis. However, further investigations revealed fluid in her fallopian tube, leading to a referral to gynaecologist Dr Petra Porter at The Bays.
Following surgery and further testing, Suzanne received a diagnosis of a rare fallopian tube cancer — a form of ovarian cancer affecting a small number of people worldwide each year.
What followed was a complex and highly coordinated treatment journey involving a team of specialists, nurses and support staff working together across different stages of her care.
Suzanne underwent surgery at The Bays, commenced chemotherapy under A/Professor Alamgeer, and later underwent further major surgery with A/Professor Tom Jobling. Her treatment was intensive, including weekly chemotherapy cycles over several months, leaving her physically exhausted.
Throughout this time, Suzanne says being able to access specialist care close to home provided comfort and stability.
“Being able to come back to The Bays for treatment and support meant I didn’t have the added burden of travelling long distances when I was at my weakest,” Suzanne says.
Following her initial treatment, Suzanne entered a period of remission. However, in December 2024, a PET scan revealed that her cancer had returned in her lymph nodes.
Once again, her care team worked together to determine the most appropriate treatment pathway. In August 2025, Suzanne began a combined course of chemotherapy and five weeks of radiation therapy delivered through Icon Cancer Centre at The Bays Cancer Care Centre.
The treatment was demanding, involving daily radiation alongside ongoing chemotherapy support. At the same time, Suzanne was caring for her husband, who lives with Parkinson’s disease, while managing her own treatment, fatigue and recovery.
During this period, the support she received from the chemotherapy nurses at The Bays and the radiation team at Icon became an important part of her experience.
“I often had nothing left to give by the time I got home,” Suzanne reflects. “But I always felt cared for when I was at The Bays and at Icon. That made a real difference.”
For Suzanne, the continuity of care — being supported by familiar teams in a location close to home — helped her navigate long periods of treatment, uncertainty and recovery.
Following completion of treatment, a PET scan in December 2025 showed no evidence of cancer. Suzanne is now awaiting her next scheduled scan in September to monitor her ongoing health.
Throughout her journey, Suzanne has also been supported by her daughter, a geriatrician, and a close network of friends who provided meals, visits and encouragement when she needed it most.
Now, by sharing her story, Suzanne hopes to help others understand the realities of ovarian cancer and the importance of seeking support and accessing care.
Her experience highlights the value of having specialist cancer services available within the local community — providing patients and their families with expert care, compassion and reassurance when they need it most.
Suzanne Staggard shared her cancer journey at an ovarian cancer awareness event held at The Bays Cancer Care Centre.