Mel, WA

Mel Taylor, a 49-year-old artist was diagnosed with a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor in 2017.

Mel was initially diagnosed with epilepsy, narcolepsy, menopause, IBS, GERD/GORD, and mental health issues. Her symptoms included fatigue and anxiety which remained unexplained. The discovery of a tennis ball-sized tumor on her pancreas marked a turning point, but living 600 km away from a capital city presented challenges in accessing specialized care.

“I had a doctor say to me, ‘I don’t really know what’s going on. Let’s just ‘wait and see.’ If I had done that, I may have been in a very different position than I am now.” 

Her children, daughter Ellie and her son, witnessed their mother’s ordeal, with Ellie visiting her in the intensive care unit and being exposed to the reality of cancer from a young age.

Since her diagnosis Mel has found solace in art, creating a series reflecting on life with neuroendocrine cancer. Describing her journey as “the absolute worst time” but also the best, Mel acknowledges the transformative impact NETs has had on her art.

Additional solace has been found in the support offered by NeuroEndocrine Cancer Australia (NECA) and its support groups. NECA has guided Mel, offering invaluable support and helped to reinforce the importance of trusting her instincts in seeking medical advice.

“NECA has made a huge difference… you can’t always just trust what medics say.”

Finally receiving a proper diagnosis has brought relief and a plan for Mel.

“Now we can get it under control.”