20 June 2024

Fiona Phillips back at work after having benign tumour removed

| Claire Sams
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Fiona Phillips

Fiona Phillips says the tumour was removed before it could become cancerous. Photo: Elise Searson.

A South Coast MP has made a full recovery and returned to work after successful surgery to remove an oral tumour.

Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips announced her return on Wednesday (19 June).

“My tumour was removed early enough to be benign. Its type, if not removed, would become cancerous,” she wrote.

“The surgery was a success.”

In early June, Ms Phillips announced she had been admitted to hospital for surgery to remove a large oral tumour.

Following the surgery, she took a leave of absence from work to recover.

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In her statement, Ms Phillips thanked her surgeon, dentist and other health professionals, and the “thousands of people that have literally kept me going over the past two weeks” with kind messages.

She also encouraged the public to make sure they looked after their own health.

“We all lead busy lives. I did not act quick enough and the outcome could have been far worse. But hopefully my story can be used in a positive way: don’t delay; have that regular health check and see your health practitioner if you’re concerned about your health.

I’m looking forward to being back out and about across our beautiful region from today.”

Ms Phillips was elected to Federal Parliament at the 2019 election.

At the 2022 election, Ms Phillips was re-elected despite a 2.44 per cent swing away from her under a two-candidate preferred count.

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