A St Leonards teenager’s life was turned upside down last year after she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.
Paige Mackenzie, 17, started feeling really tired and had pain around her wisdom teeth, which didn’t go away despite having them removed, before her Stage 4 Burkitt’s lymphoma (an aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma) diagnosis in July 2025.
“I was shocked, and I couldn’t really process it, and I didn’t really realise what was happening until about a month later when I lost all my hair. It’s not something you ever expect,” she said.
“Cancer spread everywhere in my body, like all my bones and organs except my brain, so I had complete renal failure, a bit of liver failure, lung failure, and everything was not really working.
“My organs and everything are doing better now, but it did take a few ICU (Intensive Care Unit) trips and dialysis to get them working again.”
Paige is now in remission and conducting her Year 12 studies from home, which she will extend over two years due to her health.
Despite everything she has been through, Paige maintains a remarkably positive attitude.
“I feel really lucky because not everyone can beat stage four cancer, and I’m really grateful to be here and growing my hair back and to do little things that everyone else takes for granted,” she said.
“My sister has been great throughout everything, and she is always the one to come in and cheer me up. She’s almost 21 and, because of me having cancer, she’s now studying to be a nurse, which is amazing.”
Paige’s mum Rachael Curran said her advice for parents of a child going through cancer was to reach out for support and find other families who understood what they’re going through.
“Learn to lean on people, and there are no silly questions, so just be sure to find that support because you do need it,” she said.
“Your world gets turned upside down, and when you see your daughter fighting for her life, you are just in survival mode and running on adrenaline.
“No one prepares you for how difficult the next six months are going to be…but, I’m so proud of Paige, and she should be so proud of herself as she’s doing really well.”
International Childhood Cancer Day was held on 15 February, with the Leukaemia Foundation continuing to support families living with blood cancer through this year’s World Greatest Shave initiative.
Visit worldsgreatestshave.com for more information.
