Maddie King’s Unseen Battle: How a Young Woman Faced Cancer with Courage and Community
At just 19, Maddie King was on the brink of a bright future—excited about studying abroad in Los Angeles and chasing her dreams. What she didn’t know was that beneath the surface, her body was quietly fighting a rare and aggressive form of cancer that had gone unnoticed for years.
Today, at 25, Maddie’s journey stands as a powerful testament to resilience, hope, and the transformative power of support networks like Cancer Chicks.
The Silent Warning Signs
Maddie’s first signs were subtle: an occasional cough, night sweats she brushed off, and a few hard lumps in her neck she barely noticed. Life went on, but her body was sending signals she couldn’t ignore forever.
Doctors in Sydney initially misread the symptoms. Pneumonia was suspected, and antibiotics were prescribed, but the mystery remained. Maddie herself turned to the internet, desperately searching for answers—anything but cancer.
A trip to Los Angeles for university only added to her uncertainty when a doctor there urged her to return home for more tests. Back in Sydney, the devastating truth came: stage four Hodgkin lymphoma, with tumors spreading through her neck, chest, and lungs.
From Diagnosis to Determination
Though the diagnosis was frightening, Maddie found a strange comfort in finally having an answer.
“I felt relief after months of unknowns—it meant I could fight back,” she recalls.
Her treatment began immediately, including six intense rounds of chemotherapy and a month of radiation. The urgency to preserve her fertility meant starting IVF injections the very week she was diagnosed, a stark reminder of how quickly life had shifted.
The grueling months ahead were marked by exhaustion, pain, and isolation. Social life faded as the treatments weakened her immune system long before COVID-19 made masks a global norm.
“Chemo stole my sense of normalcy. I couldn’t make plans or see friends. It was a lonely, disorienting time,” Maddie reflects.
More Than Physical Battles
Beyond the treatments, Maddie grappled with emotional turmoil. Her father’s recent death from pancreatic cancer added layers of grief and complexity.
“He passed suddenly when I was 16. I wish he could have been here to support me through this,” she says softly.
Despite the hardships, a lifeline appeared in the form of Cancer Chicks—a community founded by Rikki Stern, who herself faced Hodgkin lymphoma as a young woman.
Finding Strength in Sisterhood
Cancer Chicks offered Maddie more than advice—it gave her belonging. The group’s retreats and online support made the unbearable feel manageable.
“One retreat during chemo taught me how to draw on eyebrows after I lost mine. It sounds small, but it helped me feel like myself again,” Maddie shares.
This community reminded her—and many others—that cancer doesn’t have to be faced alone.
A New Chapter
Now in remission for five years, Maddie celebrates her health and purpose. She works in marketing in Sydney and advocates for cancer awareness among young people.
She’s passionate about making support accessible, applauding Cancer Chicks’ partnership with Afterpay, which allows donors to contribute in small, manageable amounts.
“Support isn’t about big donations—it’s about kindness, meals, small gestures that brighten a tough day,” Maddie explains.
A Message of Hope and Compassion
Maddie King’s story reminds us that cancer can affect anyone, regardless of age or health, often without warning. Her journey shows how courage combined with community can lead to healing and renewal.
Small acts of kindness, understanding, and accessible support networks make an enormous difference.
Her hope now is that no one faces such battles alone—and that everyone knows there’s strength in reaching out and accepting help.
If Maddie’s story moved you, consider sharing it. Sometimes, a simple message can be the lifeline someone desperately needs.