How a Canberra mum survived cancer when working meant risking her life

Detailed summary

Treatment costs force people with cancer to make hard choices.

In a strange way, Tahlia Salafia was lucky her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.

The Canberra woman had noticed a lump in her breast several months earlier but ignored it.

"I put it down to just having finished breastfeeding," Miss Salafia said.

"I realised I wasn't paying attention to the lump, and I couldn't remember if it was that big before and, because of my mum's diagnosis, I thought I'd better get that checked."

A swift cancer diagnosis in March 2025 was followed by treatment including chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, radiotherapy and menopause-inducing hormone blockers.

As well as attacking her body, the cancer attacked Miss Salafia's finances.

The single mother and university student was forced to give up her job as a bartender because her immune system was compromised, making a crowded bar a dangerous place to work.

Cancer patients typically face out-of-pocket costs of at least $10,000 a year, with many seeking help from local charity Rise Above.

Rise Above chief executive Renee Watson said some people who approached the charity faced a choice between paying for petrol to attend chemotherapy and putting food on the table at home.

Opening of the article, excerpted from The Canberra Times. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.