I am 31 and dying of cancer - I always did 'everything right' but have one huge regret. Don't make my mistake
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Amanda Hedges will never forgive herself for 'forgetting to live'. The 31-year-old thought she had plenty of time to splash out for seaside holidays, trips to the zoo or adventures in the snack aisle at a Costco one day. After all, only one of her grandparents have died and her impressive health record looked like it was following suit. She had never been to hospital and expected to live a long life.
![[The young woman from Brisbane said she 'forgot to live' her life and wants other people to remember what's really important]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/10/04/93945603-14268931-image-a-3_1736482245113.jpg)
So she 'gave most of her life' to work, worries and simply 'existing'. Now she's dying of cancer. The young Brisbane woman has Gioplastoma, an aggressive, terminal brain cancer. It is inoperable and although she's fighting through seemingly endless rounds of chemo and radiotherapy, it won't cure her.
![[Amanda is an only child and says she feels for her mum and dad who will have to live with her cancer diagnosis for much longer than she will]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/10/04/93945607-14268931-image-m-9_1736482671301.jpg)
'The idea is to extend my life, the cancer won't go away,' she told FEMAIL. Amanda Hedges, 31, has months to live after getting cancer. The young woman from Brisbane said she 'forgot to live' her life and wants other people to remember what's really important.
![[She says her friends and family have been there for her - making her realise how badly she prioritised things at times]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/10/04/93945611-14268931-image-m-10_1736482729998.jpg)
The heartbroken young woman's cancer horror began in September when she had a few light headaches after upping her anxiety medication. 'I asked my psychiatrist about it. They weren't bad headaches and went away with Panadol,' she said. Her psychiatrist suggested an MRI, she had never had one before and the specialist noted it could be a good idea, given her age.
![[She says her mum's support and bright spark help to keep her positive despite knowing she doesn't have long to live]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/10/04/93945605-14268931-image-a-6_1736482269365.jpg)
After the scan Amanda was sitting in the waiting room when the radiographer came toward her with a clipboard - and told her they would have to repeat the process with contrast. The bubbly blonde blurted out a joke, but didn't realise the punchline would send her world crashing down.
![[The first week of radiotherapy was tough for Amanda]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/10/04/93945599-14268931-image-m-11_1736483002702.jpg)
