Saskia Rogers never thought the ulcer in her mouth was something to worry about.
The then 16-year-old schoolgirl from Hobart, Tasmania, felt a small bump on the roof of her mouth with her tongue, which eventually grew to the size of a pea.
During an appointment with a GP for an unrelated problem, she talked about the ‘unusual’ ulcer that ‘never went away’.
The doctor advised her to keep an eye on it because the lump did not cause her any ‘immediate concerns’.
A year later, Saskia noticed that the lump had ‘quadrupled in size’, had become hard and painful and had a ‘bright purple appearance’.
When she returned to doctors, she was told the lump was ‘probably nothing’ – with a GP ruling out cancer and the need for removal.
But after months of pain, she decided to undergo surgery to remove the lump, only to discover that her condition was something much worse.
The persistent ulcer in the mouth turned out to be oral cancer.
Saskia Rogers never thought the ulcer in her mouth was something to worry about
Before her diagnosis, Saskia was just another ‘normal’ teenager.
She was a ‘fit and healthy’ Year 11 student who enjoyed exercising every week and enjoyed outdoor activities such as long walks, snorkelling and regular outings with family and friends.
“I studied hard and focused on school with the dream of studying medicine,” says Saskia, now twenty.
‘I had a lot of friends and was part of the Tasmanian youth orchestra, where I played cello at the weekend. I felt normal. I was normal.’
Although she felt “strong” and was the “fittest” she had ever been, she often got sick from common viruses and spent an “abnormal” amount of time feeling sick.
“I became fatigued earlier than my peers — signs that my immune system was being seized,” she said.
‘Of course in the height of Year 11 and in my busy schedule it wasn’t anything that seemed particularly remarkable, just something that happened to me.’
Shortly after her 16th birthday in June 2020, Saskia was bored at school one day, so she started running her tongue around her mouth when she felt a ‘lesion’ on the roof of her mouth.
“It started as a rough patch of skin in the mouth, with the surrounding skin appearing to blister,” she said.
When the ulcer became painful to touch, she went to a doctor.
“My GP agreed it was unusual and said it was probably nothing, but decided to refer us to a specialist surgeon to be on the safe side,” she said.
‘On the instructions of the specialist, we then performed CT scans, where I was told that it was a benign tumor without malignant properties.’
After months of pain, she decided to have surgery to remove the lump, only to discover that her condition was something much worse
Saskia said she felt ‘naturally relieved’ when she was told it wasn’t cancer.
“I mean, at 16, no one expects something like cancer to pop up. It will never happen to you,” she explained.
‘It was unexpected to hear that the lump did not need to be removed, and I remember being blindsided when I was given the option of elective surgery.
‘My parents are incredibly supportive and they said they would support me through the operation if it affected my daily life – a choice that may have saved my life.’
The lump, which was about 2cm long and 1.5cm wide, protruded from the center of her hard palate.
After undergoing three major surgeries, including oral reconstruction, which left a hole in her mouth, Saskia was diagnosed with oral cancer.
“It’s an almost impossible task to fully express what it’s like to hear you have cancer,” she said.
‘For me it’s almost as if the world stands still. Life automatically becomes pre-cancer and post-cancer.
‘It feels like you’re sitting still and the immediate space around you is lifeless, while everything outside is tilting on its axis in a whirlwind and the world feels a little blurry around the edges.
‘Of course nothing happens, but that’s how it feels. You get stuck on the words: ‘It’s cancer.’
As she struggled to cope with the news, Saskia said she wondered if she was “going to die” and what her future will look like.
After undergoing three major surgeries, including oral reconstruction, which left a hole in her mouth, Saskia was diagnosed with oral cancer
One of the hardest things about her cancer journey was losing most of her friends.
“I realized my peers didn’t understand what I was going through,” she said.
‘My friends and colleagues didn’t know what to say. There was nothing they could say that would make it easier or help get rid of the horrible emotions I was feeling. And so friendships became difficult.
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‘I was weird because I couldn’t talk, ‘disgusting’ because I bled in class. Many of my peers only saw my experiences at school and did not take the time to empathize with my situation.
‘It was confronting to see, but even more so when you experience it.’
She also struggled with the changes to her body and hearing about the medical procedures was “difficult” for her.
Fortunately, she was able to avoid chemotherapy, but she did have to undergo two major reconstructive surgeries, which left her unable to speak.
“I had no roof over my mouth, nothing to make my sounds,” she said.
‘I lost weight because I couldn’t eat or drink without excruciating pain. It was cruel.
‘The worst thing for me was that I felt like I couldn’t communicate with anyone. Even my parents had trouble understanding me. I’ve had to sit alone for weeks with my thoughts in pain, which is by far the hardest thing I’ve ever done.’
She has since been given the all-clear after undergoing three operations, including two major ones
Eventually, she fell behind in school and thought her dream of studying medicine was within reach.
“I was dealing with fatigue, medication, headaches and post-surgery symptoms that made going to school difficult and making it seem impossible to catch up,” she said.
When Saskia was at her lowest point, her mother suggested that she join the youth cancer organization Canteen.
“No one understood what I had been through… But at Canteen I met people who understood for the first time,” she said.
“I didn’t have to talk about it, but when I wanted to, and when I couldn’t find the right words, people listened and understood. It was a real connection, and for the first time since diagnosis I was normal. Without Canteen I wouldn’t be where I am today.’
She attended one of Canteen’s weekend retreats in Queensland and is now a youth ambassador.
Saskia spent more than a year learning to talk again through speech therapy, because the nerves never fully recovered.
As a result, her voice changed and she had to constantly concentrate on her speech pattern due to the lack of feeling in her mouth.
The persistent ulcer in the mouth turned out to be oral cancer
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Things started to look up after she got her teaching certificate and came out with a high ATAR.
“I was fortunate to have supportive teachers,” she said.
After receiving the all-clear certificate, she enrolled in a one-year bachelor’s degree in biomedicine at the university, which serves as a pathway to medicine.
During her studies, she realized it was more important to help others like her, so she is currently waiting to start nursing in February 2025.
Despite being told she is now cancer-free, she must attend biennial check-up appointments as a precaution.
“As always with cancer survivors, they say we should check and investigate anything that is abnormal,” she said.
She urges everyone, including teenagers, to be mindful of what is considered ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ on their bodies.
“Always stand up for yourself and make sure anything you’re worried about is checked,” Saskia said.
“Keep an eye out for anything that’s out of the ordinary. Bumps are always worth looking at. Raising concerns to busy doctors can feel weird or sometimes a little embarrassing, but ultimately that’s their job, and they’re there to help you.
“Asking about a problem is always the best course of action, even if it’s just to reassure you.”
‘You’re not alone’
She hopes that by sharing her story she can help other cancer patients ‘feel less alone’ and encourage family and friends to show support.
“I hope to remind people of the importance of compassion, kindness and love. Cancer is so incredibly difficult to deal with,” she said.
“Please, if you’re having trouble understanding what someone is going through… take a moment to imagine how they feel or what they’re going through. Talk to them, ask questions. 30 seconds of thinking can save someone a lifetime of pain.
“When dealing with cancer, words and inaction can cut deeper than most people realize. When you’re sick you realize all the little things you took for granted – so please go for a run, go outside, attend that concert.
“Hug your loved ones a little tighter, love a little louder, express yourself and live.”
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