By Alesha Capone
Werribee’s Shaun O’Neill, who survived cancer as a young man, says his passions in life include giving back to the community.
The now 33-year-old father and husband, was diagnosed with Acute promyelocytic leukemia at the age of 20.
His endured three years of treatment, including an initial two months in hospital under quarantine, during which his father worked from his son’s hospital room.
Mr O’Neill underwent 12 months of intravenous chemotherapy, a further two years of oral chemotherapy, three operations and 13 bone marrow biopsies.
He said after the cancer diagnosis, his life “changed in every way”.
“I had to grow up instantly,” he said.
“I lost most of my friends.
“I had to pivot in my career as I could no longer do the physical work needed to complete my baking apprenticeship.”
Mr O’Neill said he spent a lot of time feeling alone, but the charity CanTeen helped by giving him the chance to talk with other patients and survivors.
Transport to Treatment, a Cancer Council service, also helped him travel to and from Melbourne for medical treatment.
Mr O’Neill, who grew up in Romsey, said he was a “massive fan of Commodores” as a young man.
His parents gifted him with customised number plates when he survived cancer which read “ISUR5D”, meaning “I survived”.
“They (my parents) always said how proud I should be of myself and that I should wear it as a badge of honour,” Mr O’Neill said.
Mr O’Neill said the biggest positive to come from his cancer experience was meeting his wife, Samantha, who is also a cancer survivor.
He said that Samantha helped him to deal with the depression and anxiety he felt in the aftermath of cancer.
The couple call their son “a miracle” as he is the child of two cancer patients.
Mr O’Neill is also writing a comic book, based upon his experience with cancer.
“This will hopefully help me raise money to go towards helping to eradicate cancer for future generations,” he said.
Along with Samantha, Mr O’Neill serves as a team captain at the annual Relay for Life event, which raises funds for The Cancer Council.
The Wyndham Relay For Life 2021 will be held September 11 at the Victoria University Wyndham Sporting Complex in Werribee.
Details: fundraising.cancer.org.au/Wyndham or www.facebook.com/WyndhamRelayForLife.
Daffodil Day will be held on Friday, August 27, to raise funds for Cancer Council, see www.daffodilday.com.au for details.
