Being diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago was a complete shock. I had no symptoms or family history and was told I was “young” to be considered at risk. Once the shock settled and I went through treatment, it was as I had expected: scary, painful, confusing and expensive. But there was one devastating part of my breast cancer experience that I never saw coming: divorce.

The day I was diagnosed, I never imagined it would be my marriage that ended up terminal. After all, when the doctor uttered those stomach-churning words “you have cancer”, I was consoled by the fact I had a loving husband and two children, and we lived in our cosy family home. I never dreamt that just 18 months later, I would be living alone in a rental apartment, supporting myself and facing two more surgeries after my marriage had irretrievably broken down.

Kate Browne survived breast cancer only to confront a terminal marriage and financial hardship. She soon learnt she was far from alone.

Five years later, I’m in remission and my health is good. But I can’t say the same for my finances. A cancer diagnosis can be like dropping a bomb not only into the life of the person affected but the........

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