By Cassie Blackeby
October 8, 2025
At just 27, emergency nurse Phoebe Sceresini discovered a lump in her breast that would change her life forever. What should have been a time of wedding planning and excitement quickly became a fight for her life.
“I remember saying to my husband that night, this doesn’t belong here. My body was trying to tell me something,” she recalls.
The next morning, her GP sent her for scans. By chance, the results came through on the morning of her hens party. On what was meant to be a joyful day, Phoebe received devastating news—stage two hormone-positive breast cancer.
Instead of crumbling, she went into what she calls “go mode.” “I didn’t feel doom. I just had this really good feeling—I knew it wasn’t going to kill me.”
Within weeks, Phoebe underwent a double mastectomy with reconstruction, followed by six months of grueling chemotherapy. She lost her hair, her eyelashes and was thrust into early menopause—but never lost her determination.
Through it all, she and her partner Peter, her high school sweetheart of more than 14 years, faced the challenges together. Before treatment began, they planned their wedding in just nine days and were married in a magical celebration surrounded by loved ones. “It was the best day ever.”
Soon after, they turned to a fertility specialist, determined to hold onto their dream of becoming parents. “Before chemo, we created embryos. It was one of the most important steps we ever took.”
In February this year, Phoebe and Peter welcomed their son Eddie. “He is the biggest blessing of our lives. We still can’t believe how lucky we are after everything my body has been through.”
Throughout her journey, Phoebe found strength in her close-knit family and the support of the COUCH Cancer Hub, recommended to her by her breast care nurse early in treatment. “They made everything feel less clinical. It was a safe, holistic space where I felt truly supported. I didn’t need to pretend I was okay—I could walk in and just be me. It gave me a real sense of belonging.”
During recovery, Phoebe embraced COUCH’s holistic services, from cooking classes and Look Good Feel Better workshops to yoga and acupuncture. “Those sessions often got me through the darkest days. When chemo stopped and surgery was done, COUCH helped my body and mind heal. It brought a whole new side of treatment I hadn’t expected and it made such a difference.”
Now 31, Phoebe is focused on embracing life with gratitude and courage. She shares her story to remind others they are not alone.
“Cancer at 27 was a massive shake-up—it taught me to start really living and appreciating life. My advice is to stay in your own lane, because everyone’s cancer journey looks different. Lean on your loved ones, get outside, journal and surround yourself with people who lift you up. Find places like COUCH—they can really be your people.
We don’t get a rerun of this life. So live it.”
Stories like Phoebe’s are only possible because of the care COUCH provides. By becoming a Champion of COUCH, you can help more Far North locals receive the same care and hope. To find out more, head to https://couch.org.au/charity/champions-of-couch-1.