The 29-year-old entered the ‘Transformation’ division of the World Beauty, Fitness and Fashion competition in Sydney last Saturday to raise awareness about the mental and physical challenges faced by cancer survivors once they are in remission.

The ‘Transformation’ category sought competitors who had been on a “life changing journey” that had markedly changed their body and outlook. 

Kaitlin had a big story to tell.

When Kaitlin was in her early twenties she decided to make health a priority. 

“Having always lived an unhealthy, overweight lifestyle in high school and early 20’s, I originally weighed 100 kilograms. I learnt a little about nutrition and lost the 40 kilograms initially,” she said.

“I still had absolutely no confidence, even at that point. 

“I thought, I may as well take it to the next stage and really change myself, more for my confidence than anything else.”

Kaitlin entered a bikini modelling contest to motivate herself to stick to her exercise regime.  

“When I was onstage it was the first time I’d worn a bikini in public,” she said.

Fitter than ever, Kaitlin was suddenly diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2016.

“It was in my bones, my organs, my stomach, neck and chest as well, it was widespread,” she said. 

“To be honest, when you hear that word cancer you don’t think of your own health, I didn’t think instantly ‘I’m going to die’ or anything. 

“For me, I sort of thought how am I going to tell everyone around me, my family, my fiancé that I am sick?  

“You find that strength not just for yourself but for everyone around you, to give them that piece of mind you’re OK, even if you’re not.”

Kaitlin moved from Portland, where she was living with fiancé Todd Speirs, back to north Queensland to undergo intensive chemotherapy.

Therapy provided another shift in the way Kaitlin thought about her body. Due to the steroid medication she started putting weight back on. 

“So mentally I was thinking, I have no control over this I just have to accept it. 

“Everyone accepted me for who I was, and everyone loved that I could still smile even though I was going through treatment.”

After six months of treatment, Kaitlin was successfully in remission.

“It was obviously the best news, knowing that you’re cancer free,” she said.

Due to the long-lasting impacts of chemotherapy like fatigue and physical weakness, Kaitlin couldn’t return immediately to her normal life. Unable to work and confined to the house she fell into depression.

“All those emotions you put aside during chemotherapy to stay strong for everybody all catch up to you because you’ve got so much time on your hands.

“That was mentally the toughest part of the whole process.”

Kaitlin gradually worked up the strength to get back to doing what she enjoyed.

“It was a stepping stone process of just trying to walk up and down the stairs a couple of times a day, and then trying to walk down the street to the supermarket, then going to the gym a couple times a week.

“Because I had done that fitness before cancer, I think that helped a lot. And I enjoyed it, I love going to the gym and feeling strong.

“It was a reason to get up in the morning, because I didn’t have any purpose really at that point.”

Kaitlin is back living and working in Portland with a new achievement of which to be proud.

“The competition was more a celebration of my health, rather than a competition for a trophy,” she said. 

The win is just one step towards a bigger goal.

“I want to make sure there is that awareness out there that cancer doesn’t finish once you do hit remission. 

“If you know someone who has battled cancer and is now in remission, let them know that you are still there to support them back to physical and mental health.”

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