Denyse Whelan

Denyse is now 73 and at 67 was diagnosed with a rare of rare cancer in the upper gums with no risk factors. She acknowledges that it may have been easy for health professionals to overlook her symptoms. But she also knows, that if she had not decided to be more proactive in finding out more about what was happening in her mouth, her cancer may have spread further.

Denyse had 4 surgeries: a major reconstruction one taking 11 hours, with 3 nights in ICU, and 9 days in hospital in total. Her subsequent reconstruction surgeries with day surgeries, with many visits to a specialist service at Westmead for the making of an upper prosthesis for her mouth. This all took place over almost a year and a half. Denyse is well. However, she will always require checks at Westmead and is limited in her ability to eat but does all she can to stay well and share her story!