The Wilson Family

Christine and Peter Wilson live in Minto, Sydney, with their three beautiful children. Life was busy and ordinary until mid-2023, when a sore neck that wouldn’t settle led Peter from a physiotherapist to his GP, and then to a CT scan. From the first symptoms in July to the biopsy in October and the results in November, it was a confronting and uncertain few months.

Neither Christine nor Peter had ever heard of chondrosarcoma of the larynx. Peter was active, healthy and a non-smoker, so the diagnosis came as a shock after initially being told the tumour was highly unlikely to be cancer. They consider themselves fortunate that Peter’s ENT specialist quickly connected him with Professor Jonathan Clark at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, where the multidisciplinary team set out a clear treatment plan. Chrissy and Pete hold a deep gratitude for the care they received there.

Peter underwent surgery to remove the tumour and reconstruct his voice box. The length and complexity of the process was more than they expected, including multiple surgical sites, preparation of the arm for a free flap, and rib harvesting.

Recovery has brought its own challenges: vocal exhaustion which makes communication hard at times, especially around the kids, and ongoing throat clearing and coughing are a constant reminder of what he’s been through. Despite this, they have felt well supported and continue with regular scans and reviews.

Throughout treatment, Christine was by Peter’s side at every appointment, taking notes and asking questions. Balancing time at the hospital with caring for their children was difficult, but both families stepped in to help, allowing Christine and Peter to face appointments and hospital stays together.

Friends and colleagues reacted with surprise; many assumed cancers of the neck or throat only happen to smokers, which wasn’t the case for Peter.

Ongoing surveillance is now part of life. Peter still worries before scans, and the question of recurrence is always there, but they continue to take things one step at a time. Looking back, they wish they had known more about the symptoms which can linger long after treatment.

The Wilson’s share their story with the hopes others will trust their instincts and get things checked early if something doesn’t feel right. Their advice to anyone newly diagnosed is to stay positive, lean on support and accept help when it’s offered.

Christine first found HANCA during Peter’s treatment and later chose to take part in Challenge 440 in its inaugural year in 2025. It was her way of honouring what their family had been through while helping build awareness and support for others facing Head and Neck Cancer. She hopes to see more resources available for patients and carers, especially materials that can be offered directly at appointments.