Be good to your dad, chase your dreams and look after each other was Ann-Maree Mulders' pre-recorded farewell video message to her little boys if she didn't survive major surgery.
The 42-year-old Sydney mum has battled ovarian cancer for two years.
"I had surgery from my breast bone to my pubic bone and a radical hysterectomy which meant going into immediate menopause," she told AAP in Melbourne on Wednesday.
"I was very committed to (my children) not seeing me hooked up to tubes."
In a bid to reduce their trauma, sons Lachy, 7, and Matt, 10, were only allowed to visit her in hospital a week after she was out of intensive care and recovering well.
It was a heartbreaking decision at a time she was craving their cuddles the most.
An emotional Ms Mulders hugged Bill Shorten after the opposition leader committed $8 million towards research for ovarian cancer - the silent killer claiming the lives of 1000 Australian women a year.
Ms Mulder lost her oldest friend Bridget Whelan to the disease, two weeks ago.
"Women with ovarian cancer deserve some hope, and new research can give us that," she said, adding there had been no new breakthroughs in treatment for 30 years.
Election 2016: Mapping the campaign trail
Election 2016: Mapping the campaign trail
Mr Shorten reflected on his own mother's breast cancer fight as he had morning tea with survivors and family members who had lost loved ones.
After hearing their personal stories he told the gathering they all reminded him of the reason he got into politics.
"No-one ever asks for the set of circumstances that brought you here," he said.
"When the mother is doing it tough, it's the foundation that rocks the family."
Survival prospects for women with ovarian cancer are gloomy - only 43 out of 100 women are still alive five years on from being diagnosed.
An estimated 1500 women are newly diagnosed each year.
There is no screening test so many women are unaware they have the condition until the disease is at a late stage.
The symptoms can be hard to spot and are commonly mistaken with menopause or being run down.
The research funding pledge continued Mr Shorten's election campaign focus on health policies this week.
He is expected to take his campaign to the Northern Territory in the afternoon.
