Yvonne O'Teng praises every Queenslander that gave up alcohol for Dry July, a national campaign that raises funds for Mater Adult Hospital Oncology Unit, as the 29-year-old knows all too well how distressing cancer treatment can be.
Yvonne was 25 weeks pregnant with her daughter when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma disease.
Leaving her husband behind in her hometown of Darwin, Yvonne was flown to Mater hospital by emergency helicopter. Three weeks after diagnosis, she gave birth to her daughter Rose at 28 weeks gestation so she could commence chemotherapy.
Yvonne has been receiving chemotherapy for eight months, going into Mater for treatment every two weeks.
"Mater nurses have been amazing, like part of my family. I feel at home and sometimes I don’t even feel like I’m going through treatment because of them," Yvonne said.