57-year-old Jo Coombes from Redbank Plains has spent the last two decades in a battle she never anticipated—a relentless fight against Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC), the most common yet underestimated form of skin cancer.
In 2003, Jo was a 37-year-old mother of two, living in Queanbeyan, NSW, and working at Coles when two tiny crusty spots appeared on her upper lip.
Initially dismissed as minor, the spots were frozen off by her GP, but they returned. After multiple unsuccessful treatments, Jo was eventually diagnosed with BCC—a diagnosis that would come to define much of her life.
Over the next 20 years, what began as a seemingly minor issue spiraled into a series of devastating surgeries and treatments.
Despite being told BCC was “the cancer you want to get,” Jo’s experience was anything but minor. Her cancer was infiltrating, spreading like a spiderweb due to a misapplied cream treatment.
The journey that followed was harrowing. Jo endured over 25 surgeries, three rounds of radiation, and various forms of chemotherapy.
“With each surgery, they took skin from different parts of my neck, face, and body. I felt like a patchwork quilt,” Jo recalls.
In 2012, after moving to Queensland for a fresh start, Jo’s cancer returned.
She was treated by a multidisciplinary team at Ipswich Hospital, leading to more surgeries and radiation.
A pivotal moment came in 2019 when Jo underwent a 16-hour surgery to remove her nose, eye, eye socket, and cheekbone.
Cancer has taken much from Jo—her appearance, her job, and her lifestyle—but not her spirit.
She continues to find strength in her family and her husband Mark – who has been her rock throughout this fight, hoping for a cure and advocating for better psychological support for those like her.
“My message is clear: If you have a BCC, get it checked,” she said.
“It’s worth getting it removed and having a small scar rather than risking what I’ve endured.”
For more information, visit https://www.headandneckcancer.org.au/
