At 64, Vivienne faced a life-altering diagnosis: stage 4 bowel cancer. Born in Invercargill, New Zealand, and now residing in Brisbane, Australia, her experience with the “Big C” has been one of challenge, transformation, and surprising revelations.

Vivienne’s diagnosis came with a daunting prognosis—just a few months to live. What followed was an intense treatment journey, including months of intravenous chemotherapy and combined radiation and oral chemotherapy.

I was 8 years old when my mother was diagnosed with colon cancer and hospitalized for a month for surgery and post-surgical complications. I worried that she might die and leave me motherless. I also worried that her cancer might be contagious and that I might very well catch it and die as well. I had no one to talk with about my fears. My father was preoccupied with my mother’s illness while...