After serving in the military, Kaela Graham-Bowman spent years working as an oncology nurse in Canberra.
She understood the devastating impact of cancer better than anyone — yet none of her patients knew she was fighting the same deadly illness herself.
In 2020, 34-year-old Graham-Bowman started experiencing intense pain in her leg. Initially, she assumed it was just a muscle tear.
I was incredibly fit then, hitting the gym five days a week,’ Kaela recalls.
The pain, centered in her right thigh and extending to her knee, worsened at night. After several weeks, a lump appeared near her groin on the right side of her thigh.
Kaela Graham-Bowman’s Powerful Journey: From Oncology Nurse to Sarcoma Warrior
I assumed it was just a torn muscle and asked my GP for a cortisone injection,” Graham-Bowman says.
To ensure the injection would be administered correctly, her doctor ordered an ultrasound — and that’s when everything changed.
The sonographer looked completely stunned and said he needed to get the doctor,” she remembers.
He rushed out, and the doctor returned almost immediately. She said, ‘We need to rule out sarcoma.’
From Military Service to Oncology Nursing in Canberra
I remember asking, ‘What’s sarcoma?’ I had never even heard of it — and I worked in oncology,” Kaela says. “The doctor simply replied, ‘It’s cancer.’
Sarcoma is one of the deadliest cancers affecting children and young adults, even though it makes up only 20 percent of cancer diagnoses in this age group.
Despite its severity, funding for sarcoma research remains alarmingly low, according to the Australian and New Zealand Sarcoma Association (ANZSA).
A Mysterious Pain Turns Into a Life-Changing Diagnosis
July is recognised as Sarcoma Awareness Month, aiming to raise vital funds for research into this rare and aggressive form of cancer.
I don’t think I fully grasped how serious it was at first,” Graham-Bowman explains. “Cancer is terrifying on its own, but then there are the rare and aggressive types — and sarcoma falls into that category.
The Shocking Ultrasound That Changed Everything
She notes that sarcoma is often detected at an advanced stage because it develops deep within the tissues. “By the time symptoms appear, it’s usually already progressed quite far.
Kaela was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma in 2020 and has been battling it ever since.
At the time of Graham-Bowman’s diagnosis, her children, Aston and Violet, were just three and six years old.
When Violet asks if she’s going to die, Kaela gently reassures her, saying she’s “doing her best not to.
Understanding Sarcoma: A Rare and Aggressive Cancer
The first person she called after hearing the diagnosis was her husband, Alex, followed by her father, Clint Keogh.
I was completely hysterical,” she recalls.
She found solace in the everyday responsibilities of family life.
In a way, having kids and work has been a silver lining. They kept me moving forward — because when I’m alone with my thoughts, it can get really dark,” she shares.
Graham-Bowman underwent an intense three-month course of chemotherapy, during which she experienced severe complications, including heart failure.
Diagnosis and Devastation: A Mother’s Brave Response
I was extremely unwell, in and out of the hospital constantly, and then underwent radiation therapy five days a week for two months,” she says.
I wasn’t able to work during chemotherapy, but I continued working while undergoing radiation — which was a bit ironic since I was working in oncology,” she says. “I’d head down for my radiation sessions during my lunch break.
Following surgery and chemotherapy, the plan was for Graham-Bowman to have scans every three months.
On the last of those routine scans, we found out I had relapsed — the cancer had spread to my lungs,” she recalls.
Fighting for Normalcy: Parenthood, Fatigue, and Resilience
This time, she underwent a wedge resection — a procedure to remove the tumors — followed by additional surgery, including a thoracotomy.
“I’ve had another relapse recently, and now I’m part of a clinical trial,” she says.
For Graham-Bowman, the clinical trial is the only treatment option remaining, and she considers herself fortunate to qualify for it.
She’s currently receiving a new form of immunotherapy and remains hopeful that it will be effective.
Facing Chemotherapy, Radiation, and Relapse
It’s a bit gentler on my body compared to chemotherapy, which is something to be grateful for,” she says.
The treatment involves an infusion every 21 days, and early results from other sarcoma patients have been quite promising.
Beyond the physical and emotional toll of cancer, there’s also a significant financial strain on her family.
Thankfully, the trial team covers most of the major costs, but there are still out-of-pocket expenses for things like medications and food,” she explains.
There’s also the added strain of my husband having to take time off work, which affects him and, in turn, the kids,she says.
A Second Battle: Lung Metastasis and Clinical Trial Hope
If I’m not home or he needs to be with me, we have to find someone to care for the children — the ripple effect is enormous.
Kaela is also battling extreme fatigue.
There are a couple of days each week when I just sleep all day,” she says. “I simply can’t stay awake.
The Hidden Toll: Financial, Physical, and Emotional Strain
Still, she makes an effort to work whenever possible. “It’s really important for the kids to see a sense of normalcy — to watch me doing regular mum things.
To those newly diagnosed with sarcoma, Graham-Bowman strongly encourages self-advocacy.
If something doesn’t feel right, don’t accept the first answer. Get a second opinion — it could literally save your life.
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