‘So incredibly strong’: What got Lynette Bolton through her cancer battle
Friends reveal how she faced her toughest battle yet – and came out the other side smiling.
Media personality Lynette Bolton has received the all clear from cancer after six months of gruelling treatment – with those close to her saying the milestone has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Lynette was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer just days before Christmas last year after discovering a lump. The aggressive, fast-growing form of the disease required 12 rounds of chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy – and now, after 191 days, she has reached a major turning point.
Announcing the news on Instagram, Lynette wrote: “pCR 🥳= Pathological Complete Response = No cancer cells found. We bloody did it 🥹💕 Thank you for every message, prayer, positive thought and moment of support over the last 191 days. I will be forever grateful ❤️”.
A source close to the family tells Woman’s Day the all clear has been met with overwhelming emotion.
“Getting the all clear last week has been amazing,” the insider says. “She is ready to take on the next chapter knowing Jude and their girls will be right there at her side.”
The insider says Lynette’s husband, former Sydney Swans premiership player Jude Bolton, has been pivotal to her recovery alongside their daughters Siarra, 13, and Piper, 11.
“Jude has been absolutely amazing and his extraordinary dedication to looking after Lynette has come as no surprise to any of his mates – he is one of the nicest, kindest blokes and Lynette and their girls are the epicentre of his universe,” the source says.
“Lynette credits Jude and the girls for getting to where she is today – she and Jude have been buoyed by how much the girls really stepped up. Of course there’ve been plenty of tears, but now it’s only smiles – it’s the best news ever!”
Throughout her battle, Lynette has shared every step of her journey publicly, appearing on breakfast television alongside Jude early in her diagnosis and continuing to open up to her followers since.
“She has openly shared her journey with her followers because in many ways they have given her the strength to push through some very dark days,” the source says. “She’s also become a real support for others who are undergoing similar cancer treatments.”
The insider says Lynette’s attitude throughout has been an inspiration to all who know her. “Lynette chose early on that she was not going to let this beat her – from the get-go she has been the poster girl for courage and positivity, and despite having endured six months of really brutal treatment, that gorgeous smile is never too far away.”
Lynette first revealed her diagnosis publicly in the hope it would encourage others to prioritise early detection.
“It was the end of November and I was just having a shower, and just realised that there was a lump around 2.5 to 3cm and got onto it pretty quickly,” Lynette told The Daily Telegraph. “It certainly wasn’t there the last time I checked, which was only around a month ago.”
Despite the seriousness of her diagnosis, Lynette said there was reason for cautious optimism. “Mine is not hormone driven. Basically it’s aggressive and it’s quick growing. But what that means is it reacts well to chemo,” she said.
Lynette initially kept the situation private, sharing the news only with Jude before going public. “My message is, I am telling everyone now – you must, you must, you must check your breasts,” she said.
She said her two daughters responded differently to the news, with her youngest displaying unexpected resilience. “I thought this news was going to ruin her life,” she said. “But she turned around and said, ‘Don’t worry mum, I am an expert in cancer.’”
Lynette said the support she received since sharing her story has been overwhelming. “Someone said to me, it’s the sisterhood you don’t want to be a part of, but you never knew you needed.”