When Gemma Flanagan found a lump in her breast, she "just knew" it was cancer.
But she was completely unprepared when her husband Matt was diagnosed with cancer too - just six days later.
On March 10th, doctors confirmed that Queensland native Gemma, who's mum to Isabella (3) and Harper (23 months), had an aggressive form of stage III breast cancer, and would need a course of chemotherapy and a double mastectomy.
Just as Gemma's family began processing this, Matt booked in for a colonoscopy after months of digestive problems, and that's when he found out he had a 6cm tumour on his colon.
"I couldn't believe it," Gemma told Kidspot. "I didn't know how to accept that news when I had barely processed my own."
Naturally, the couple are still in shock and haven't yet come to terms with the fact that they're both cancer patients.
"I don't know if it has really hit me," said Gemma. "I don't know if my brain has completely processed it."
Fortunately, they have a lot of family support, with grandparents and uncles rallying around little Isabella and Harper to keep things relatively normal while their parents get treatment.
But breaking the news to the little girls was incredibly difficult.
"We've had to explain to my eldest that Mummy's going to lose her hair, we're both going to get sick, and we won't be able to play with them the same way we did," she said.
Yet, even in the midst of her chemotherapy, Gemma is still doing the things a mum needs to do - making sure the girls get to swimming lessons and day care, and keeping their routines as normal as she can.
"I'm battling this, but I'm still being Mummy," she said. "My youngest had croup last night so I was up until 11 looking after her. That sort of thing doesn't change."
Both Gemma and Matt have been forced to confront the reality that their illnesses could have serious effects on their family, but they're determined to stay positive.
"It's hard not to think about the worst-case scenario but all we can do is take one day at a time," said Gemma.
"We're so lucky to have an amazing support network. We accept that some days are good days, some are bad."
"Doctors have used the word 'curable' which I'm running with at the moment," she said. "Our two kids need us so much. They're just babies. Not beating it isn't an option."
Family and friends have set up a gofundme account to help the young family face the battle ahead. It’s already raised over $20,000. Gemma says that she and Matt are simply “lost for words” and “enormously grateful” for the overwhelming support they’ve received.
“My friends and family have been amazing,” Gemma says. “It puts your faith back in humanity. You hear so many horrible stories, and yet when something like this happens, it just brings out the best in people.”
