There is a saying that everyone has a cancer story, whether that be the individual or someone close to that person. One Launceston woman is sharing her cancer journey in the hopes of raising awareness in time for National Bandanna Day.
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Georgia Richardson, now 22, was diagnosed with cancer when she was five years old when her parents followed up on the eye problems she was experiencing.
After eight months of visiting different specialists and trying techniques to strengthen the eye, Ms Richardson had an MRI which revealed there was a mass on her brain.
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Twenty-four hours later she was in surgery to remove the mass, which was later diagnosed as pilocytic astrocytoma, a form of brain cancer.
Surgeons had removed as much of the tumour as possible, but were unable to remove all of it as it was attached to the optic nerve.
Ms Richardson's family discussed options and decided the best action for their daughter was chemotherapy, of which Ms Richardson undertook seven rounds.
"The bits and pieces I remember of it are so up and down," she said.
"It is quite an interesting thing, I think, experiencing cancer as a young person. It's all I have ever known, I don't remember life before cancer. It is just a part of who I am."
The tumor shrunk as much as possible after chemotherapy, but was still there. Ms Richardson experienced regular MRIs to make sure it was not growing and still gets checked now.
"[Cancer is] just so isolating. My friends could empathise or sympathise and they were really supportive, but until you have been through it you can't be on the same level," she said.
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Ms Richardson joined Canteen about six years ago and received support for the trauma she had been through. She also met others who had been through similar experiences.
"That was just amazing to finally realise I wasn't alone," she said.
Now, Ms Richardson is on the leadership team in Launceston and spreading her story to help others and supporting National Bandanna Day - held October 29.
"Bandanna Day is a great time for everyone to get involved and show support. This is where you can visibly see ... how much people care, it's so heartwarming," she said.
Ms Richardson is in her third year of studying a Bachelor of Primary Education and in her second year working part-time as a teaching assistant.
She hopes to work her way up to full-time employment in a special education school to support young people with disabilities and extra learning needs.
"Due to cancer, there are some gaps in my education as teachers didn't know how to support me which has led to my ambition of supporting students who may otherwise end up in a similar position," she said.
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