Sydney woman's mission following terminal cancer diagnosis: 'You never think it is going to be you'

Anna Tarrant fiddles with her headphones as she dials into the call.

Due to scarring on her head from a recent brain surgery, she explains she has to use a special set.

"I usually like to rock a bit of a Puff Daddy vibe with full-on headphones, but because of my scarring I can't wear them," she tells 9Honey.

"I now have to use these annoying little earphones. It's a bit of a pain in the butt but, I mean, I'm still here. They gave me five years to live 12 years ago, so I'm still rattling around like an old spinster, even if I'm kind of on the decline."

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Tarrant, 38, has terminal brain cancer, and if her wicked sense of humour is anything to go by, she's a force to be reckoned with.

Tarrant's cancer journey started in 2010, at the age of 26, when she was rushed to hospital after suffering a seizure.

Hours later, she awoken by doctors who told her she had a tumour the size of a small lemon.

Her initial prognosis was not good and she was told she had, at maximum, five years to live. But nearly 12 years later, she is still here.

"I think what's actually kept me alive has been staying as positive as possible, and just being able to have a sense of humor about it, even though, let's be honest, it's pretty morbid," she says.

Since her diagnosis, Tarrant has undergone many major surgeries, radiotherapy and numerous rounds of chemotherapy, but unfortunately, the tumour was never successfully removed and kept growing back.

There is now one other option left for her to try and slow it down, one last chemo drug.

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"I think I've come to terms with my mortality, as much as I can, because I've had it for such a long time," she says.

"It's how I'm going to go down that freaks me out the most, because I will lose all my mental and physical capacity over time."

Brain cancer is the least-funded of all cancers and the most expensive to treat. Over the years, Tarrant has spent over $130,000 on medical expenses.

"I'm single, so I don't have a dual income partner. My parents and I have spent so much on surgery. I need a physio. I need to pay for psychiatrist appointments and often need to see a GP for pain. The list of medical appointments is endless," she says.

"It all adds up so much. I don't know how I'm going to afford palliative care."

A go fund me page has been set up by reality star Jules Robinson on behalf of Tarrant to assist with her medical fees, but also to help launch her passion project, a website designed to support people going through cancer.

"Going through cancer is an incredibly lonely journey, and you won't believe how difficult it actually is to find websites that bring cancer patients together," Tarrant says.

"I designed a website when I first got cancer and was like, right, I want to help people in my position but unfortunately, without marketing and funding it is just so hard to get the word out."

Tarrant, who had to quit her office job when she received her diagnosis, has poured her heart and soul into designing a platform that will act as a supportive space for those with, and impacted by, cancer.

"I want it to be a place for people with cancer, but also I am really mindful of carers, whether it be a mum, sister, brother or friend, because I feel like they often get left behind in the process."

Tarrant hopes that with increased funding, she will be able to create the platform and give those effected by cancer the chance to connect and support one another in a way that only those impacted will understand.

"I'm on a trajectory, and I don't know anyone else who's on this trajectory," she says.

"All my girlfriends are married and a lot of them now have babies. They're on this pathway that I thought I'd be on, but it just hasn't worked out that way."

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At present, there is no cure for brain cancer and it is the biggest cancer killer in adults under the age of 40.

"You never think it is going to be you," Tarrant says.

"You always hear about other people getting it, and you think, 'Oh, my God, that's so sad.'"

"You just never think you're gonna be that person in the chair being told. It's pretty mind-blowing."

Despite it all, Tarrant wants to spread positivity: "Life's too short. You need to live your best life and live in the moment."

You can follow Anna via her Instagram here and support her mission via her go fund me. Your support will help kickstart a life changing website and app for all cancer patients and their selfless carers on their journeys for years and years to come.

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