Cancer survivor’s trip of a lifetime

THE loss of her soulmate and a brush with cancer inspired a Coodanup grandmother of seven to head on a safari adventure of a lifetime.

Virginia Prosser, 76, said she owed her incredible adventure and newfound friendships in South Africa to her time at Dot’s Place Peel, a Cancer Council WA support centre in Greenfields.

“I lost my beautiful husband and soulmate suddenly to a cardiac arrest,” Mrs Prosser said.

“Life as I knew it had changed forever. I couldn’t eat or sleep, I didn’t want to get out of bed or see anyone. I completely shut out the world.

“Six months after my husband’s passing, I was about to shower when I noticed an abnormality in my right breast.

“After several tests and scans, they confirmed a malignancy and I was diagnosed with breast cancer.”

Mrs Prosser visited Dot’s Place Peel following the discovery of her cancer.

“Dot’s Place helped me so much,” she said.

“It has such a calm and welcoming environment and I’d often visit to relax in a friendly space and enjoy a cup of tea and chat with others.”

Mrs Prosser said staff helped her organise transport to the hospital and provided her with information about the other services on offer, such as reflexology and reiki.

“Many of us would travel on the bus together every week for treatment and that’s where I became good friends with Cheryl,” she said.

“Cheryl told me about her son who lives in South Africa and asked me if I’d like to go with her next time. I didn’t need to be asked twice.

“It was the trip of a lifetime. I finally felt I was opening a new chapter in my life.

“If I hadn’t had breast cancer, gone to Dot’s Place and travelled on the bus, I would never have met Cheryl and never in my wildest dreams gone to South Africa.

“Having cancer changed my life with the help of Dot’s Place.

“And even though I’m onto my next chapter, my husband is always with me, just in a different way.”

Mrs Prosser has since been cleared of cancer.