{"id":70245,"date":"2025-10-13T15:59:19","date_gmt":"2025-10-13T04:59:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hudson.org.au\/?post_type=hdsn_news_post&p=70245"},"modified":"2025-10-13T15:59:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T04:59:22","slug":"lee-annes-story-finding-strength-in-the-sea","status":"publish","type":"hdsn_news_post","link":"https:\/\/hudson.org.au\/news\/lee-annes-story-finding-strength-in-the-sea\/","title":{"rendered":"Lee-Anne\u2019s story: Finding strength in the sea"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In February 2024, Lee-Anne Matthews received news no one ever wants to hear – stage 4 ovarian cancer. After enduring chemotherapy and surgery, Lee-Anne experienced nine precious months in remission. But when the cancer returned, she faced it with the same determination that has carried her through every challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, Lee-Anne undergoes chemotherapy every four weeks. Her most recent results bring hope\u2014her CA125 levels are low, and scans show a significant reduction in the cancer. \u201cI\u2019ll keep going on this path,\u201d she says, \u201cuntil either a new treatment or a cure is found.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A life anchored in hope<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Lee-Anne lives in beautiful Port Stephens, NSW, where the ocean has become her sanctuary. On days when treatment allows, she boards whale-watching boats to photograph migrating humpback whales and playful dolphins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s my therapy,\u201d she explains. \u201cA huge dose of vitamin sea.\u201d Her photographs, shared on Instagram at #leematthews.photography<\/a><\/strong>, capture not just the majesty of the ocean but also her resilience and joy in the face of uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Giving back, even in the midst of battle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite her own journey, Lee-Anne chooses to give back. Each month, she makes a donation to support Hudson Institute\u2019s ovarian cancer research<\/a>. \u201cMy meagre monthly donation is somewhat selfish and self-motivated,\u201d she admits with a smile. \u201cOne Powerball and a larger donation is on its way!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMonthly support means researchers don\u2019t have to stop and start \u2014 they can keep pushing until the next breakthrough arrives, for me and for every woman facing this disease. It brings me great joy to know that I’m helping to bring Hudson Institute more much\u2011needed support because I know firsthand how vital this research is for families like mine, and for the generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Lee-Anne, supporting research is about more than her own fight\u2014it\u2019s about helping to create a future where women diagnosed with ovarian cancer have better options, earlier detection, and real hope for a cure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How you can help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lee-Anne\u2019s story is one of courage, generosity, and determination. By supporting the research she believes in, you can stand alongside her and countless others facing ovarian cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make a regular gift today to help accelerate the discoveries that could change more lives like Lee’s tomorrow.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Become a regular giver today<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In February 2024, Lee Matthews received news no one ever wants to hear – stage 4 ovarian cancer. After enduring chemotherapy and surgery, Lee experienced nine precious months in remission. But when the cancer returned, she faced it with the same determination that has carried her through every challenge.…  Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":70247,"menu_order":0,"template":"","issue":[],"tag":[],"story-type":[88],"treatment-type":[],"class_list":["post-70245","hdsn_news_post","type-hdsn_news_post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","story-type-real-lives"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nLee-Anne\u2019s story: Finding strength in the sea - Hudson Institute of Medical Research<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"For Lee, supporting ovarian cancer research is about more than her own fight\u2014it\u2019s about and real hope for a cure.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/hudson.org.au\/news\/lee-annes-story-finding-strength-in-the-sea\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Lee-Anne\u2019s story: Finding strength in the sea\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"For Lee, supporting ovarian cancer research is about more than her own fight\u2014it\u2019s about and real hope for a cure.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/hudson.org.au\/news\/lee-annes-story-finding-strength-in-the-sea\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Hudson Institute of Medical Research\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-13T04:59:22+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/hudson.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/lee-story.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hudson.org.au\\\/news\\\/lee-annes-story-finding-strength-in-the-sea\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hudson.org.au\\\/news\\\/lee-annes-story-finding-strength-in-the-sea\\\/\",\"name\":\"Lee-Anne\u2019s story: Finding strength in the sea - 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