FOR most people, the idea of launching into a woodworking project while undergoing cancer treatment might seem unusual.
But for Cleveland resident Ken Wilson, staying occupied during radiation therapy for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) became essential to his physical and mental wellbeing.
A long-time woodworking enthusiast, the 71-year-old dedicated his six weeks of weekday treatment at Icon Cancer Centre Redland to building a Nutcracker entirely from scratch.
“Right from the start of my diagnosis, I wasn’t going to let the cancer beat me. I believe that if you have a positive attitude, you get positive results,” says Ken.
“When I was undergoing daily radiation therapy, I was able to spend six weeks at home and concentrate on building the Nutcracker. I wanted to keep busy, and this was the perfect excuse to take my mind off treatment.”
Ken’s cancer journey began in November 2024 following a routine skin check, which identified a SCC on his bottom lip.
Surgery removed the cancer with clear margins, giving the impression it had been fully addressed.
But in April 2025, a lump on his neck—initially assumed to be related to a cortisone injection—led to further investigation.
“I didn’t put two and two together that the lump had to do with the cancer. My GP gave me a referral to get an ultrasound done. I was told to wait a week to see if the lump went down. When there were no changes to the lump by early May, I had the ultrasound
done, which confirmed there was a mass,” says Ken.
A CT scan and biopsy revealed the SCC had returned and spread to the lymph nodes.
Ken underwent surgery to remove the mass and lymph nodes before beginning radiation therapy under the care of radiation oncologist Dr Mihir Shanker.
He chose Icon Redland for treatment because it allowed him to start immediately and stay close to home.
“(Icon Redland) is only 10 minutes from home and there’s plenty of parking available. I could drive myself home after treatment sessions. If I had to go into the city for treatment, Sonya would have had to go with me each day. I felt like I had more independence by having my treatment done locally,” says Ken.
“The team at Icon were fantastic. From start to finish, the staff were friendly and could not do enough to help me.”
Ken says his recovery was also supported by his wife Sonya, a former nurse, whose experience helped him effectively manage treatment side effects.
“We found the nurses at Icon were very helpful in offering guidance on how to best care for Ken and manage his side effects during treatment,” says Sonya.
“We always took on board their advice and didn’t take any short cuts in his care. As a result, I think Ken’s recovery was a lot smoother and he was still able to do things, like build the Nutcracker, while he was undergoing treatment.”
Since completing treatment, Ken has crafted several more Nutcrackers.
Wanting to give back, he donated one of his creations to Cancer Council Queensland’s Redlands Volunteer Branch, where Sonya serves as secretary.
The handcrafted piece is a prize in the branch’s 2025 Christmas raffle.
“It has its own little personality and would be a wonderful addition to the winner’s Christmas decorations,” says Sonya.
The Nutcracker is currently on display at the Icon Redland reception area, where raffle tickets are available.
Tickets can also be purchased at stalls and events across Redlands or by emailing [email protected] or calling 0493 722 397.
All proceeds support Cancer Council Queensland’s work.
