Now, at 31, she is sharing her experience to encourage other young women to know their bodies, trust their instincts and seek medical advice when something doesn’t feel right.

“I always had the attitude that it wasn’t going to happen to me,” she said. “And here we are.”

In 2024, Gabbie discovered a lump in her breast. Initially, she assumed it was hormonal and would eventually disappear. However, when the lump remained after several months, she decided to visit her GP. Further investigations and biopsies confirmed a breast cancer diagnosis shortly before Christmas that year.

What followed was a challenging period of treatment throughout 2025, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy and oral chemotherapy.

As a registered nurse, Gabbie was familiar with the healthcare environment, but experiencing cancer as a patient was an entirely different experience.

“It’s a very vulnerable time,” she said. “I honestly can’t fault the care I received. Everyone was amazing, and I was treated so well.”

Her colleagues played an important role in supporting her throughout treatment, and she continued working two days a week to maintain a sense of normality and support her mental wellbeing.

“You’re watching everyone getting on with life, and you would love to do the same, but you’re in a holding pattern while treatments are being carried out.

“I was very lucky to have such a great support network of family, friends and colleagues, who went above and beyond during this vulnerable time.”

While receiving the news that she was cancer-free was an important milestone, Gabbie says the experience of cancer does not simply end when treatment finishes.

“People hear that you’re cancer-free and life goes on, but it’s not always that simple. There’s always that thought in the back of your mind that something else could happen.”

Despite the challenges, the experience has changed Gabbie’s perspective on life and strengthened her connection with her patients. She believes having experienced cancer herself will help her better understand and support women facing a similar diagnosis.

For now, Gabbie is embracing life beyond cancer. A keen traveller, she recently returned from an African safari, making up for the time when overseas travel was not possible during treatment.

Her message to other young women is simple: breast cancer does not discriminate based on age, and no one should feel embarrassed about seeking medical advice.

“Make sure you check your girls. If you think something isn’t right, advocate for yourself. You know your own body better than anyone.

“It’s not embarrassing to get checked. It’s always better to find out it’s nothing than to ignore something that could be serious.”