Channel 10 News First Queensland Liz Cantor has revealed she had a terrifying health scare only weeks before learning her mother was diagnosed with cancer.
The 41-year-old mother-of-three said her family ordeal began after she discovered a lump on her breast while taking a shower.
After enduring a series of tests the results came back negative. But her relief was short lived when she received the grim news about her mother Becky, only a month later.
‘I’ll never forget, those moments in life imprint, they are never lost,’ Liz said on Saturday in a new interview with the Gold Coast Bulletin.
She continued: ‘I was just pulling into the driveway at home from a 10 News weather cross and my phone rang and it was Mum and Dad together telling me she had cancer.
‘I just couldn’t believe it. She’s only 70 and loves running, she’s been running half-marathons because she said she wants to make sure she was fit and around for a long time to be with the grandkids.’
Channel 10 News First Queensland Liz Cantor has revealed she had a terrifying health scare only weeks before learning her mother was diagnosed with cancer. Pictured: Liz Cantor
The 41-year-old mother-of-three said her family ordeal began after she discovered a lump on her breast while taking a shower
Liz shared that her mother has advanced pancreatic cancer after being initially told it was pancreatitis – an inflammation of the pancreas.
A relative who is a physician, provided a second opinion, she said, and it was who discovered Becky’s true condition.
Liz added that whatever therapy that Becky undergoes will be life-extending and not curative.
The TV veteran who is also appearing on the Seven network as presenter of Coast to Coast and Weekender said her mother is currently undergoing chemotherapy.
Liz said she wanted to open up about her mother’s condition because Becky wanted to encourage people to ‘push for more answers’ when dealing with serious matters.
Still, Liz said she was hesitant to go public with her family ordeal.
‘I’ve also been hesitant because there is so much judgement these days, and I know for someone else this maybe isn’t the worst story,’ she added.
‘But for me it’s been a living nightmare, this is not just another cancer diagnosis, this is my mum and my heart is shattering. Mums are important.’
After enduring a series of tests the results came back negative. But her relief was short lived when she received the grim news about her mother Becky, only a month later she said on Saturday in a new interview with the Gold Coast Bulletin
Liz also shared that her scare was finally diagnosed as a PASH (pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia) which has the appearance of a tumour.
It can have the appearance of a tumour, and it can be caused by trauma.
She later took to Instagram to share the GCB article and added a message to the post.
‘Mum may look a bit different in my stories over the holidays and I hope this answers any Qs. Those who have followed me here for sometime would know she’s a big part of our lives – and a constant with the grandkids x.’
Liz shares three children with her husband Ryan Lynsaught, sons, Kit, 7, Fin, 6, and two-year-old daughter Sky.
It comes after Liz scored a unique deal with the Seven and 10 networks earlier this year.
After moving to Channel Ten’s 10 News First in August management about both channels agreed she could maintain her gigs presenting lifestyle shows Coast to coast and Weekender on Seven.
‘Ten immediately okayed it. But when I asked Seven if there was any way I could do 10 News but also [Seven’s] Creek to Coast and Weekender, I was told it just wasn’t done,’ Liz told the Gold Coast Bulletin in September.
‘When I asked why, no one really had a reason. So I kept pushing and they said, “well, let’s see what we can figure out”.’
Liz added that after a lot of back and forth they finally reached an arrangement everyone was happy with, where she could continue to present her lifestyle programs after defecting to 10 News.
She added the deal was mutually beneficial to both Seven and Ten and she hoped that similar arrangements could be made in the future for other presenters, which would benefit all major networks.
‘I thank both networks for their foresight and ability to be open-minded. We’re at the stage now where it no longer needs to be Seven versus Nine versus Ten, but all free-to-air channels should be working together to keep viewers.
‘I’m proud to be one of the first who’s working across the two networks. I hope I won’t be the last.’
Last month, resigned Seven star Liz Cantor confirmed a huge ‘plot twist’ in her big move from the channel to its rival Network 10.
The bubbly presenter confirmed she is quitting 7News after 17 years with the embattled channel and is moving to Network 10.
Liz anchors the 10 News First Queensland bulletin live from Brisbane – The stunner is helming the program alongside another former Seven reporter, Sharyn Ghidella, who was axed from the network last month amid job cuts.