By Raia Flinos
TAHNEE Driver thought her bloating was a sign of an intolerance; gluten maybe. She had some pizza and a sore stomach and at first, wasn’t too concerned. But six weeks ago, Tahnee’s life was flipped upside down.
The 39-year-old mum of two was urged to go to hospital after days of being unable to keep down food. At 11:30pm, after an MRI, she was told she had bowel cancer. Two days later, she was in surgery, having a tumour removed. “It didn’t feel real,” she said. “I actually put my arm out to the nurse and said, ‘Can you pinch me?’”. The tumour was removed but shortly after, Tahnee was alerted that the cancer had spread to her liver, pelvis, and stomach lining. It was stage 4 and incurable.
Now, Tahnee will face a lifetime of chemotherapy. But, when you speak to Tahnee, her unwavering strength and resilience are clear. “It’s an attack on my body, not my spirit,” she said. “I kept a positive attitude the whole time. I was just like okay, this is happening, I’m just gonna go with it. It is what it is.”
Over the last few weeks, Tahnee has remained grounded through her diagnosis, surgery, and treatment planning, not just for herself, but for her daughters, Zahlia and Harmony. “The hardest part was telling the girls,” she said. Her daughters are currently six and eight years old. Zahlia, her eldest, was aware of what cancer was and had overheard them speaking about it.
“She looked at me and asked, ‘Do you have cancer?’ I just said, ‘Yes, sweetie, I do,” Tahnee said.
It has been difficult for them to completely understand the situation, and they had lots of questions for Tahnee but have since become her little helpers. They have remained a constant presence, helping carry groceries, offering cuddles, and reminding Tahnee what is truly important in life. “It’s going to, one day, come to an end, so I may as well just appreciate the little things, so just spending more time with the girls, quality time, and just making memories,” she said.
Tahnee’s diagnosis came with minimal symptoms, only the occasional bloating and some discomfort which she chalked up to food sensitivity. She wants others to understand how easily it can be missed.
She’s now advocating for the age of routine bowel cancer testing to be lowered. Currently, in Australia, individuals over 50 years old are sent bowel cancer screening kits every two years. Tahnee believes testing should begin at 30 instead. She went for a pap smear before her diagnosis and wishes she could have known then that she should be doing another test. “It’s becoming more and more prevalent in younger people, and the awareness is definitely not there,” Tahnee said.
In the wake of her diagnosis, her family has rallied around her. Her sister, Chloe, flew down from Queensland, her brother, Jayden, has set up a GoFundMe to support her and the girls, and her mum has provided endless support. Her ex-husband and father of her children, Dave, has been there for her every step of the way, and his parents as well. Dave’s mother, Bernie, has stepped in to help cook meals and offer childcare. Their support has helped Tahnee through the insurmountable challenges she has faced over the last few weeks.
Even with support surrounding her, Tahnee has had to wrestle with the loss of her independence. Recovery meant she couldn’t drive for weeks, she couldn’t lift bags, small things that make a big impact each day. “I’ve had to be a bit selfish,” she said. “When I need rest, I need rest.”
Despite everything, Tahnee is determined to make a difference. She’s already planning fundraisers and wants to give back to bowel cancer research. If she could offer a message to someone facing a diagnosis like hers? “Just stay positive. Never give up and just take all the help you can.”
Tahnee admits she’s had emotional moments, but she’s refused to let them consume her. “I’ve literally had to snap myself out of it because there’s no point. I don’t see the point in you know moping around, sitting here feeling sorry for myself. I’ve just got to get up and get on with it and get the job done.”
She now finds joy in the small things, even the chaotic school runs. Every moment is meaningful.
She is choosing to live life to the fullest from now on. She has plans to go skydiving in September, is booking a cruise to New Zealand, and her best friend is organising for her to shake Jimmy Barnes’ hand; a life-long dream of Tahnee’s.
“I’m going to keep my spirits high as can be and I’m going to fight with all my might and prove the doctors wrong,” she said. To support Tahnee and her daughters, you can donate at: gofundme.com/f/tahnee-driver
First published in the Mornington News – 5 August 2025
