The 45-year-old’s first thought was of her daughters – Bella, 14, and seven-year-old Shayla.

“The oncologist said there was nothing that would work for melanoma cancer,” Ms McClymont said.

“That was the worst day of my life, leaving and thinking I was going to die and just leave my two kids.

“I was literally rocking in the corner for a couple of weeks.”

But hope quickly followed. Just one week later, pembrolizumab, better known by brand name Keytruda, was placed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

The drug works with the body’s immune system to attack and reject cancer.

It is prescribed only to tackle advanced melanoma in Australia and can have dangerous side effects.

Ms McClymont started the treatment September 1 last year, the first day of its listing.

Just months later she has surprised even her oncologist with the dramatic turnaround in her health.

“I had a scan three months in and that didn’t show anything,” she said.

“I was starting to panic it wasn’t going to work.

“But I’ve had two great scans.

“In January the scans showed my tumours had shrunk considerably.

“A scan a few weeks ago showed most of them had gone.”

Ms McClymont is emotional as she details her recovery.

Having first been diagnosed with cancer in 2008, the journey has been long, and she will continue to have intravenous treatment every three weeks.

“Before this treatment I was practically given 12 months to live,” she said.

“It’s a miracle drug, really, now I’m at the stage where they’re nearly all gone.

“I definitely haven’t got the energy I used to but apart from that it’s not like chemo.

“I’ve got no energy and I’m tired but I can deal with that if I can see my girls grow up.”

Bella, a bright Prospect High School student, said the past several years had been tough.

“We’re just really, really happy she’s going to be around for much longer.”