"I hold on to the hope that while I’m on this journey, a breakthrough will come.”
Dimity Francis, Brain Cancer Consumer Advocate
Dimity Francis is speaking up for families affected by brain cancer.
On her 32nd birthday, Dimity Francis received news that changed her world - she had brain cancer. What started as a sinus infection and neck pain quickly escalated, leading to the discovery of a grade two astrocytoma.
“I went from thinking I had a simple infection to being told I had brain cancer,” Dimity, a mother of two young kids, recalls. “Within a week, I was in surgery.”
The diagnosis came with an unusual twist - Dimity had spent 10 years managing a neurosurgery department, only to find herself as a patient in the system she once helped run. “In some ways, it was a blessing. I knew my surgeon and felt very comfortable in their care. But having so much knowledge was also terrifying,” she admits.
After a full tumour resection last year, Dimity is now on a watch-and-wait protocol, undergoing scans every three months to monitor for recurrence. This cycle brings immense anxiety—a feeling many brain cancer patients know too well. “Lying in that MRI machine, all I can think about is the last time I was there, when I was diagnosed. It’s like reliving the worst moment over and over again.”
Her experience has given her a unique perspective on the gaps in patient care, particularly for young families navigating life with brain cancer. "It's important to sit down before surgery and discuss the potential implications, such as not being able to drive for six months. This can have a big impact on your daily life, and for families like mine, that change can be significant."
Dimity is now a member of the Brain Cancer Australia Consumer Advisory Panel, using her voice to highlight these challenges and ensure the patient experience is at the centre of research initiatives. “So many young people are being diagnosed, and the impact ripples beyond the patient - it affects the entire family. I want to make sure their voices are heard.”
Read Dimity’s full story here.
