Secret Harbour mother battles own cancer diagnosis following loss of daughter 'Milli' to brain cancer

A Secret Harbour mother who lost her daughter Milli to brain cancer two years ago is now facing her own cancer battle.

Monika Smirk has been diagnosed with terminal melanoma, her fourth cancer diagnosis.

Her family have a genetic condition called Li-Fraumeni syndrome where they are predisposed to developing cancer.

Monika has already lost her mum, brother, niece, nephew and daughter to the disease.

Milli was just 14 when she passed away in 2021 after a four year battle with brain cancer.

Speaking to 7NEWS, Monika said she is worried about how her family will cope without her.

“For me, it’s different this time because I know I’m not going to have to suffer,” she told 7NEWS

“But those three are going to be left and that’s what’s killing me.”

Ms Smirk found lumps on her back in 2021 while caring for Milli but her grief caused her to delay a biopsy.

“By the time I had gotten the biopsies done it was totally aggressive,” Ms Smirk told 7NEWS.

Family friend Cara Booth has since organised a massive online raffle fundraiser for the Smirk/Lucas family with over $13,000 of prizes up for grabs.

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