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For some, taking on a woodworking project while undergoing cancer treatment might sound a little nuts.
But for Cleveland resident, Ken Wilson, staying busy during his radiation therapy treatment for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was vital for his mental and physical wellbeing.
A woodworking enthusiast, 71-year-old Ken set about building a Nutcracker from scratch during his six weeks of radiation therapy each weekday at Icon Cancer Centre Redland.
“Right from the start of my diagnosis, I wasn’t going to let the cancer beat me. I believe that if you have a positive attitude, you get positive results,” says Ken.
“When I was undergoing daily radiation therapy, I was able to spend six weeks at home and concentrate on building the Nutcracker. I wanted to keep busy, and this was the perfect excuse to take my mind off treatment.”
Ken was diagnosed with a SCC on his bottom lip following a routine skin check in November 2024. Following surgery to remove the cancer, Ken was told the margins achieved around the cancer on the section of the lip removed were adequate, indicating that the cancer had been fully removed.
However, a visit to his GP in April 2025 for a lump on Ken’s neck, which he assumed was a side effect of a cortisone injection in his shoulder a week earlier, led to the discovery that the cancer had returned.
“I didn’t put two and two together that the lump had to do with the cancer. My GP gave me a referral to get an ultrasound done. I was told to wait a week to see if the lump went down. When there were no changes to the lump by early May, I had the ultrasound done, which confirmed there was a mass,” says Ken.
Following a CT scan and biopsy, Ken and his wife Sonya were informed the SCC had returned and spread to the lymph nodes in Ken’s neck.
Following surgery to remove the mass and lymph nodes, Ken underwent radiation therapy at Icon Redland under the care of radiation oncologist, Dr Mihir Shanker.
Ken opted to have his radiation therapy at Icon Redland as he could start treatment immediately and it was convenient to have treatment close to home.
“(Icon Redland) is only 10 minutes from home and there’s plenty of parking available. I could drive myself home after treatment sessions. If I had to go into the city for treatment, Sonya would have had to go with me each day. I felt like I had more independence by having my treatment done locally,” says Ken.
“The team at Icon were fantastic. From start to finish, the staff were friendly and could not do enough to help me.”
Ken is also full of praise for Sonya. As a former nurse, Sonya was instrumental in helping Ken navigate the side effects of his treatment, which in turn helped Ken to live well during his treatment.
“We found the nurses at Icon were very helpful in offering guidance on how to best care for Ken and manage his side effects during treatment,” says Sonya.
“We always took on board their advice and didn’t take any short cuts in his care. As a result, I think Ken’s recovery was a lot smoother and he was still able to do things, like build the Nutcracker, while he was undergoing treatment.”
Ken has completed several more Nutcrackers since his treatment finished. Determined to give back, Ken has kindly donated a small Nutcracker to Cancer Council Queensland’s Redlands Volunteer Branch, where Sonya is the secretary.
The Nutcracker is a prize in the branch’s 2025 Christmas raffle. “It has its own little personality and would be a wonderful addition to the winner’s Christmas decorations,” says Sonya.
The Nutcracker is currently on display in the Icon Redland reception area, where tickets are available.
Tickets for the raffle are also available at the branch’s stalls and events across Redlands or by emailing ccqredlands@gmail.com or calling 0493 722 397.
All funds raised will support the work of Cancer Council Queensland.
The Cancer Council Queensland Redland’s Volunteer Branch are also providing a gift wrapping service at Capalaba Central Shopping Centre until close of business on Christmas Eve to raise funds.
Find out more on the Cancer Council Queensland’s Redlands Volunteer Branch Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CCQRedlandsBranch/
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