A Melbourne woman who faked having terminal cancer and scammed $42,000 from her parents' friends and neighbours so she could maintain her partying lifestyle, has been jailed for three months.

Hanna Dickenson, 24, convinced her parents to give her money for supposedly lifesaving treatment in 2012 before later telling them she needed more funds for overseas treatments in Thailand and New Zealand.

Dickenson's parents, who run a farm near Swan Hill in Victoria's north-west, were struggling financially and asked neighbours and friends for money, according to court documents.

One of Dickenson's victims had just been discharged from hospital after undergoing his own cancer treatment when he was duped into transferring $10,000 to her for "urgent treatment" in March, 2013, the court heard.

Instead, Dickenson used the money to party with friends, abuse alcohol and drugs and go on overseas holidays.

But her charade was uncovered when another of Dickenson's victim's discovered photos on her Facebook profile which made him suspicious about her claims of ill health.

He contacted police who then identified a number of other victims.

Dickenson was sentenced to three months' jail and a 12-month community corrections order which will require her to do 150 hours of community work and undergo treatment for mental health issues and substance abuse.

Defence argues Dickenson 'has turned her life around'

Magistrate David Starvaggi described her behaviour as "despicable".

"There's been a request for financial assistance in circumstances where it had been purported that Ms Dickenson had very few options left," Mr Starvaggi said.

"The court must rightly deter others from engaging in this sort of conduct, taking advantage of people willing to assist and advance moneys to support somebody in what is perceived to be very tragic or dire consequences.

"Ms Dickenson has engaged in conduct that tears at the very heartstrings of human nature."

Dickenson's lawyer, Beverley Lindsay, had earlier urged the magistrate not to jail her client, comparing her offending to that of fake wellness blogger Belle Gibson.

Ms Gibson was fined more than $400,000 by the Federal Court for profiting off false claims she had brain cancer which had been cured by alternative therapies and nutrition.

Ms Lindsay argued Dickenson's offending was not as bad, as she had only asked her parents for money and had not been purporting to help other cancer sufferers.

Hanna Dickenson (R) used the money to party and travel overseas. ( Facebook: Hanna Dickenson )

"Yes she has harmed some people … she didn't ask them directly though," she said.

"She hasn't engaged in this behaviour for three years, she's been a model worker … she's turned her life around, she's proven that.

"To send her to prison now sends her backwards.

But the magistrate said he could not think of a "worse case … needing both specific deterrence and general deterrence".

"It beggars belief that she approached her parents for assistance purporting to be suffering from … grave ill health," he said.

Dickenson pleaded guilty to seven charges of obtaining property by deception.

The court heard she would lose her job as a property manager for Little Real Estate in Melbourne.

Dickenson's lawyer indicated she would appeal the sentence.