Nicole's story

Never give up

Mother of two, Nicole Santer, was first diagnosed with melanoma in 2005. At the time Nicole was busy with family life, running her own event company and volunteering in the local community.

After noticing a mole on her lower back, Nicole went to see her dermatologist and insisted the mole be removed. When a melanoma diagnosis came back Nicole was horrified. “After the mole was removed I assumed everything would be fine. But my doctor called the very next day. I felt my stomach sinking as I heard his words - it’s a serious, aggressive melanoma needing immediate treatment. All I could think was - I have cancer… there is no cure... I may not live to see my two beautiful children finish school.”

Nicole’s melanoma required immediate surgery, which removed tissue surrounding the melanoma and three of the lymph nodes from Nicole’s groin. After the surgery Nicole was eligible to participate in a 4-week trial for melanoma treatment. The trial required an increased dose of Interferon much larger than the regular dose. There were side effects but Nicole wanted to give herself the best chance of surviving. “I knew I had to keep making myself go on, I had to find the strength to push my body to its limits, not only for me but for my family. The thought crossed my mind many times to just drop out, but I looked at my husband and children and knew that I couldn’t.”

During the treatment Nicole wanted to keep life as normal as possible. She remembers one particularly bad week. “I felt so sick – I was shivering and aching from head to toe – but I managed to drag myself out of bed and sat at the dinner table just like normal. I asked my kids how their day was. I knew then, deep inside I wouldn’t give in, I would do everything to fight this horrible disease.”

This is exactly what Nicole has done. Six years later she is free of any sign of melanoma. Nicole is grateful for the care provided to her at the Poche Centre. “The sincerity of the staff and doctors helped me through a tremendously difficult time in my life, a time when I was at my lowest, I can’t thank them enough.”

Having grown up in Bondi, Nicole spent much of her childhood at the beach, and thought nothing of getting a suntan. But now she is vigilant about protecting herself – and her children – from the sun’s harmful UV rays.