Kellie Finlayson has marked three years of living with cancer with a touching and at times heartbreaking montage of what it is like to be a young mother battling the deadly disease.
Her Instagram post includes confronting images from behind the scenes of her struggle, including being forced to wear adult nappies, dealing with hair loss and the pain of undergoing constant medical procedures.
Finlayson captioned the post with ‘3 years. 3 whole fkn years’, as well as a crying emoji.
Kellie, the wife of AFL star Jeremy Finlayson, was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in August 2021, three months after giving birth to their daughter Sophia.
Initially attributing her symptoms to postpartum recovery, further tests revealed the cancer, which had already advanced significantly.
The 28-year-old underwent intensive treatment, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgeries, but faced ongoing health challenges.
Kellie Finlayson hasn’t pulled any punches with a heart-rending post that shows how tough her battle with cancer has been over the last three years (pictured)
Despite the awful nature of her long fight, the 28-year-old has remained a doting mother
While Kellie has put up a strong front to the public, her new video has revealed how badly she’s been hit by the deadly disease
In December 2022, after experiencing chest pain, scans revealed that her cancer had metastasised to her lungs, resulting in a terminal diagnosis.
Despite this, she began another round of chemotherapy in January 2023 to manage the disease.
In mid-2023, Kellie shared hopeful updates as the treatment initially showed positive effects, though the cancer remained terminal.
She stopped her chemotherapy and radiation treatments to put her trust in natural therapies and alternative medicine.
However, by July this year the cancer had resumed growing, prompting further consultations and another round of chemotherapy in August.
The family also decided to sell their Adelaide home at auction for $915,000 to accommodate her increasing need for in-home care and medical equipment.
The three years of battling cancer has taken its toll mentally as well as physically, leaving Kellie with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Throughout her journey, Kellie has been open about her experiences, aiming to raise awareness about bowel cancer and the importance of early detection.
Constant hospital visits for chemotherapy and radiation therapy have become the new normal for Kellie in the last three years
Hair loss has been a side effect of the treatment that Kellie has had to endure
Pictured: Kellie with her Port Adelaide footy star husband Jeremy and their daughter Sophia
Her latest video – which was also posted by Jeremy – shows plenty of strength, smiling, dancing and enjoying life with her husband and daughter Sophia.
It also shows the confronting reality of living with terminal cancer – the tears, hair loss, endless medical treatments, loss of dignity and the rollercoaster of emotions Kellie has endured to slow down her incurable condition.
Her story has become an inspiration and a call to action for others facing similar battles.
And Kellie’s latest video post with images and footage never released to the public before has resulted in a flood of incredible responses.
‘You’ll probably never fully know the lives you’ve touched, the people you’ve inspired, or the difference you’ve made. You keep going, giving hope to so many. What a role model you are,’ two-time cancer survivor and mental health advocate Hugo Toohey posted.
‘Absolutely in awe of you. My husband has fought CRC and a lot of those images were familiar. You bring so much light to a dark subject matter, and showing the dark bits is legendary too. Keep going, beautiful human,’ another follower replied.
‘Having met you just the once I was floored when you told me you were fighting cancer. You radiate life, I couldn’t believe your positivity and your glow. As many have said you are inspiring, a beautiful soul, mum, wife and a role model to all of us,’ replied another.
