'At 41, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. One decision I made months earlier changed everything.'

Thanks to our brand partner, Zurich

At the age of 41, Jo Young had the life she'd always dreamed of. Her two kids were both happy and healthy, her career as the Customer Marketing Chapter Lead at Zurich was taking off and she'd just moved in with her partner.

But after noticing a mass under her breast in the shower one night and experiencing increasing pain as the days went by, her life changed in an instant.

"I had my mammogram and ultrasound and the next thing I knew, I had four people walk into the room," she said. "They told me straight away that I had breast cancer and that it had spread to a node under my arm — I didn't know if I was going to vomit or faint, I just wanted to fall through the floor."

Opening up about her experience for the first time, Jo shares what it's like to face a cancer diagnosis in your early forties, the emotional fallout and the financial decisions that saved her from losing it all.

An unexpected reality.

As Jo received the crushing news of her triple negative breast cancer diagnosis, it was the fear of what would happen to her children that hit the hardest.

"All I could see was my two boys at my funeral over and over in my head," she said. "My world just completely crumbled."

While trying to make sense of her new reality, Jo's mind instantly turned to finances and how she would undergo treatment, focus on her health and cover the mortgage while not being able to work. "I didn't receive any child support or a second income," she explained.

"I had been divorced for six years and had fought so hard post-divorce to keep my house for my children — I didn't want to lose it."

Thankfully, Jo remembered she had recently acquired income protection insurance and life insurance. "I put in a claim for income protection, which was accepted. While it wasn't my full-time income, it was enough to allow me to take a break from work, making my full-time job about getting better."

During the two-month waiting period for her policy to kick in, Jo used her sick leave and savings, to cover her mortgage and other expenses.

Her income protection policy also provided a sense of peace during a time of chaos and confusion. "I knew no matter what happened to me, my boys would be able to keep their routine," she said. "I got to keep the house, keep up with expenses and I also got to access the very best in medical care."

Navigating serious illness.

With her claim lodged, Jo was put on chemo within nine days of diagnosis at a hospital of her choice — something she couldn't have afforded without the combination of health insurance and income protection.

"I told the oncologist I didn't have a choice — I had to survive for my family."

With her treatment plan sorted, Jo then had to navigate what this meant for her career. "I told my manager I needed at least a year off, which I couldn't have done without that income protection," she added. "Not having to worry about work was so helpful — I needed that time to fight and get my strength back."

The crucial role of financial security.

With her income protection insurance helping to take care of business in the background, Jo was able to navigate the treatment and side effects that often left her debilitated in bed.

"I had six months of chemo, one year of immunotherapy, 25 rounds of radiation, a port in and a port removed, lymph nodes removed and a lumpectomy. I lost all my hair, put on weight with steroids and had head-to-toe rashes a lot of the time," she added.

Jo firmly believes the peace of mind she gained from income protection insurance was a game-changer. "I can't imagine going through that all with the stress of having to work."

Jo was also quick to add that most income protection policies cover you up to 70 per cent of your income; however you are taxed on this amount.

"You end up with about 55-60 per cent of your income. I had to dig into savings, superannuation and had some help from my parents for extra medical expenses, so it's absolutely key to understand that keeping up with normal expenses is one thing but keeping up with the added medical and rehab bills is quite another."

Following her recent experience, Jo has a number of tips for those considering obtaining coverage. "Please look at your insurance needs when you are well. It's so easy to put it off and think 'this won't happen to me', but unfortunately, many people don't understand the importance of life insurance, income protection and other personal insurances until it is too late.

"I know too many people who were left saying 'if only' when they got sick or injured and couldn't work. Illness and injury can set your financial self back years! Also, remember there's a waiting period if you have to claim, so make sure you have some leave or savings to cover you through this time or choose a shorter waiting period if you can," she said. This is particularly important given increased expenses and bills that don't stop.

"You'll also want to look at the length of your policy and what it covers you for — mine covered me for five years off work, while some cover up to the age of 65 but these are more expensive."

While there's plenty of focus on getting into the property market or diversifying our funds, Jo believes an increased focus on protecting the wealth we've built is just as important. "You don't want to be in a situation where it's too late," she said. "We know cancers are more prevalent in young people these days and that our mental health is so tied to our financial wellbeing."

As Jo strives towards her two-year cancer-free milestone, she can't help but look back proudly on her journey, the challenges she's endured and the decisions that allowed her to remain the independent person she's always been.

"When my children asked how we were going to keep our home while I couldn't work, I just said, 'It's okay kids, I got this.' It was a proud moment."

Learn more about Zurich's life insurance and income protection online.

Feature Image: Getty.

How to buy insurance from Zurich:There are two ways you can buy Zurich life insurance.

Through a financial adviser:A financial adviser can help you understand your current financial situation, as well as your goals for the future, so you get the right cover for your needs. They can structure your cover in a way that gives you the best value for money and suits your cash flow and tax objectives.

Directly from us: If you know the type and amount of cover you need, Zurich Ezicover is a range of simple life insurance products. It's easy to apply online. Get an online quote here - direct.zurich.com.au/