SONIA Cottee was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in July 2022, and says the awful thing about pancreatic cancer is that it sneaks up on you.

“I consider myself to be pretty fit, I would walk up Red Hill three or four times a week, do pilates, go to the gym and walk everywhere near where I live,” she says.

“But, every now and then I got just a little niggle, a little ache in my lower back.”

It was only by chance Sonia, 72, of Kingston, found her cancer.

“Another doctor, a gastroenterologist, ordered me an ultrasound for something else,” she says.

“And bingo, suddenly I’m told they have identified a mass on my pancreas.

“It set off a whole chain of events, at first we thought it could be operated on, but unfortunately further scans revealed it had already metastasised into my liver.

“So, the only alternative for me, with stage four pancreatic cancer, is what they call palliative chemotherapy.”

After her diagnosis, Sonia was encouraged to wait six weeks before starting chemotherapy, to go and have a holiday with her family.

“We don’t know how much time I have left,” she says.

“So, I gathered my two sons and their families and we booked a big house up on the Sunshine Coast. I had the most beautiful time.”

Sonia explains palliative chemotherapy is designed to keep her as pain free as possible, and hopefully slow down the tumour’s growth.

“There is really no end to my chemotherapy treatment, it depends how long my body can withstand the constant poison, because chemotherapy is pretty poisonous” she says.

“But, for the moment we’re pushing on, and my next goal is just to make it to Christmas.

“I know it can’t be cured, which is why I have become so passionate about the fact we need more research into this.”

Sonia is doing her best to become a miracle, hoping to outlast how long statistics tell her she has.

“I am very involved with making sure my diet is now the healthiest it can be, which is helped by my sister who trained as a naturopath years ago,” she says.

“I really believe that looking at my diet and making sure that I do as much as possible to keep my immune system firing at peak capacity is important in keeping me going, and in how I respond to the chemotherapy.

“I haven’t had quite as many side effects as some others have.”

Sonia takes a spoonful of bi-carb soda in water each day to keep her body at a high alkalinity.

“I also have medicinal cannabis, I limit my intake of red meat, only eat wild-caught fish because farmed fish can have chemicals, and I have lots and lots of greens.”

But, in “especially horrifying” news, Sonia says pancreatic cancer has just been taken off the rare cancer list, and is now considered common.

“When I was first diagnosed I just wanted to research everything, and I came across Pancare and PanKind,” she says.

“They have been incredibly helpful and informative. I sit in on a Zoom support group once a month with Pancare, hearing stories of other people with pancreatic or upper GI cancers, and they are just inspiring.

“And, on November 19, to fundraise and raise awareness, PanKind is having their inaugural Put Your Foot Down walk.”
As of November 9, Sonia had raised $5930.

“I’m pretty excited and people are just being so generous, kind, supportive,” she says.

“You can bring your dogs and family, we’re meeting at The Jetty to do the bridge to bridge walk, registration opens at 8.30am and the event starts at 9.30am.”

Sonia says the colour for pancreatic cancer is purple, so people are encouraged to dress up.

“So many people go all out with their outfits, it’s lovely to see,” she says.

“I will be there, walking amongst people who are really trying to make a difference, and I know my friends, neighbours and family will be walking alongside me.

“It’s been extraordinary and at times I find it quite overwhelming and incredibly moving, the support and love I have found myself surrounded by. I am just so grateful.”

Register or donate at canberra.putyourfootdown.org.au