Nicole Trimboli, author of What A Sh!t Show!, sharing her powerful journey through cancer and resilience.
Nicole Trimboli’s health journey began out of necessity rather than choice after she was diagnosed with cancer in 2006 and again in 2021.
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Those two life-threatening diagnoses forced her to stop and reassess how she was living her life — not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.
Before that, Nicole was living what many people would recognise as a busy life, working in high-pressure corporate environments, raising a family and constantly putting everyone else first.
“Like so many people, my own health and wellbeing were always pushed to the bottom of the list,” Nicole said.
“Going through cancer twice changed my perspective completely.
“Today I’m incredibly grateful to the science and the medical team who have saved my life, but I also live with the reality that life now moves in six-month blocks between scans and appointments.”
As a result of her cancer journey, Nicole now lives with a permanent ostomy bag and has written a book titled What A Sh!t Show!, which details her experience.
On Saturday, March 7, she was a guest speaker at a stomal awareness event at Echuca Regional Health, dedicated to empowering people living with ostomy bags.
What A Sh!t Show! takes readers on a confronting and courageous journey through the chaos of burnout and the brutal reality of surviving two different cancers years apart.
Nicole said her story challenged the myth that success required self-sacrifice, revealing the harsh truth that neglecting personal wellbeing could come at a devastating cost.
“With raw honesty and genuine heart, I pull back the curtain on life’s darkest moments — relentless pressure, emotional exhaustion and the private battles most never see,” she said.
“This isn’t a story of defeat; it’s a powerful testament to resilience, transformation and reclaiming your life on your own terms.
“Too often we wait for trauma, loss, illness or tragedy to force us to act — but we don’t have to. Dare to face the mess. Own your comeback.”
Nicole is also an ambassador for Coloplast Ostomy, and her strong connection with Cynthia Williams from Liberation Holistic Health in Echuca helped bring the event together.
The event was supported by Jeff Antcliff and Wounds Australia, including the Be Wound Aware initiative.
Around 30 people attended, hearing not only from Nicole about her journey and her book, but also from Cynthia Williams of Liberation Holistic Health, who spoke and served as MC for the event, and Linda Rasmussen, Echuca Regional Health’s stoma nurse.
“Being part of an event like this is an honour and means a great deal to me,” Nicole said.
“Inspiring men and women of all ages to support each other by having conversations.
“If sharing my story and the lessons I’ve learned can give someone even a small sense of hope, strength and reassurance that they’re not alone — or the courage to make positive changes in their lives — then it’s worth it.
“I believe there’s real power in honest conversations and shared experiences, and if my journey helps others feel a little more supported or informed as they navigate their own path, that means everything to me.”
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