Ladies lunch

At 6 months pregnant with her son, Hudson, Alana was conducting a routine self-check when she found a small lump on her breast. In a check-up with her obstetrician, hormonal changes were blamed for the cause of the lump. But, once her baby was born and after months with no improvement, Alana knew something wasn’t right, despite being repeatedly assured that the lump was just a blocked milk duct. By now, the mass in Alana’s breast was so painful and large that she could see it puckering her skin. 

It had been 7 months since she found the lump, and after speaking to her sister – a women’s oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist – Alana knew she had to be an advocate for her own health.  

The day after visiting a new breast clinic in her area, Alana was diagnosed with an 11cm mass of predominantly invasive ductal carcinoma in situ. After months of being told to ‘wait and see’, Alana now had to undergo a mastectomy, 8 months of chemo, 5 weeks of radiation, a year of immunotherapy, and is now on medication for the foreseeable future. 

As a new mum, Alana’s diagnosis and treatment changed everything - from the way she could parent to her relationship, career, and body. For Alana, her support network was vital to her recovery, giving her the time she needed to rest and recover as she learnt to accept help, even when it felt against her nature. 

15 years ago, Dana found a lump in her breast after her most recent mammogram came back clear. An advocate for her own health, Dana pushed for further testing, leading to her first diagnosis of breast cancer.  

For Dana, there is a gap in the mental health funding for breast cancer patients. To help patients navigate the mental and emotional toll of diagnosis and treatment, Dana believes that more funding is required. At 55 years old, Dana has now been living with metastatic breast cancer for eight years, but in the 16 years she’s been on her breast cancer journey, Dana never considered it a ‘fight’ but rather, her greatest teacher, helping her live a life of freedom and love. 

Dana urges those in their breast cancer journey to use their own voice to navigate their journey through listening to their bodies, rather than listening to the fear.  

While the champagne was bubbling and music was blasting in her best friend’s bridal suite, Erin felt a wave of panic when she found a lump on her right breast as she adjusted herself into her bridesmaids dress. 

Within a few weeks, Erin had a scan and biopsy, just to be sure. But when Erin and her partner went to the GP’s office to collect the results, it was clear that it was bad news. The biopsy confirmed the lump was solid papillary cancer - a very rare, slow growing breast cancer that is usually found in older women. Except, for Erin, it was aggressive and growing fast in her 28-year-old body. She quickly began treatment, undergoing lumpectomy surgery, followed by three months of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation, which ended in December last year.  

For Erin, treatment changed everything: she froze her eggs in case she wanted to have children later in life, and she was put on long-term hormone treatment which put her into menopause. And yet, some things still felt the same for Erin as she tried to keep up with her ‘normal’ life as much as possible during treatment. 

Today, Erin is back at work and enjoying her footy again. It’s easy to get swept up in it all, but once she finished treatment, the negative thoughts and worries became less frequent and were further away from the forefront of her mind. For those going through it, It. Gets. Better. 

Two days before Christmas of 2017, Jacqui noticed a change in the shape of her breast and saw dimpling on my skin. Concerned and confused after her mammogram was deemed clear in May 2017, Jacqui decided to see a doctor when the new year rolled in. In January 2018, she was diagnosed with a 5.2cm breast cancer and within a month, Jacqui had a bilateral mastectomy and right axillary lymph node clearance.  

With 11 positive lymph nodes found, Jacqui underwent radiation and chemotherapy, using the cold cap to preserve her hair in an attempt to continue running her practice without her patients knowing her diagnosis. 

As a solo doctor, Jacqui kept her practice running during her treatment, despite suffering from numerous muscular and joint reactions to the aromatase inhibitors, some of which required surgery.  

Before her diagnosis, Jacqui was running at full capacity, working long hours in operating theatres as an assistant surgeon, and running her own practice. The cancer, she says, made her take stock of her life. Today, she has retired from the operating theatre and now focusses on working 4 days a week in her practice. Her advice? Don’t get to the end of the life with blinkers on, relish this opportunity to create the life you want. 

As a mother of 2 young boys, Juanita was shocked to receive a diagnosis of breast cancer at 44 years old. During her diagnosis, Juanita and her husband tried to keep their children’s lives as normal as possible while they anxiously waited on biopsies and test results.  

After surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, Juanita’s positivity helped her find strength in herself that she didn’t know she had. When treatment began taking a toll on her body and mind, and she felt like throwing in the towel, she leaned on those around her to help her through.  

Today, Juanita is back at work, enjoying her new hobby, golf, and embracing the art of meditation. She practices not taking anything for granted, cherishing her family, immediate and extended and her friends. She finds joy in saying yes to life and living her life to the fullest. Her advice? Connect with other survivors. Your story will never be the same as theirs, but there is an understanding that all survivors share. 

At 41, Marylyn was diagnosed with breast cancer. Following a partial mastectomy and the removal of 9 lymph nodes, Marylyn underwent an extensive radiation therapy regime – 10 days of in-hospital radiation therapy using radioactive wires, followed by 6 weeks of outpatient radiation. 

For Marylyn, her diagnosis instigated a mental shift – she worked on getting fit, eating well, and surrounding herself with her family and friends.  

Even after 31 years since her diagnosis, Marylyn has continued to live her life to her mantra of wellness - she even walked over 28 kilometres across Sydney for the Seven Bridges Walk earlier this year. 

For those going through it, Marylyn reflects on the continuous improvement in breast cancer treatment over the past three decades, making breast cancer more treatable than ever before, with the survival rate after 5 years now sitting at 95 percent, as opposed to 86 percent when Marylyn was diagnosed. Her advice? Be positive, enjoy your family and friends, and most of all, focus on your health and happiness. 

Nicole first discovered a lump on a Monday. By Thursday, after a mammogram and ultrasound, when her doctor sent her for more testing, Nicole knew something wasn’t right. After a biopsy and an appointment with a breast surgeon, Nicole was told she had cancer - triple negative breast cancer with a less than five percent hormone component. 

At 38 years old, and grappling with the shock of her diagnosis, Nicole found the hardest part was breaking the news to her family, especially to her mum and brother.  

Throughout her treatment, Nicole’s life became a series of medical appointments as she underwent 5 months of chemotherapy and a lumpectomy. Nicole attributes her recovery to her support network who was there for her every step of the way. By leaning on those around her, Nicole was able to find the strength to take each day at a time, and to focus on resting and preparing herself for the next chemo session. 

Despite fears that her cancer could reoccur, Nicole relishes in being on the other side of cancer. Today, Nicole focuses on her health, surrounding herself with her friends and family, and travelling the globe. 

When Pamela found a tiny lump on her breast 19 years ago, she knew something wasn’t right. After making an appointment with her doctor, her diagnosis was confirmed – Pamela had Stage 3 ductal carcinoma in situ.  

What followed was a lumpectomy, five weeks of radiation therapy, and a lifestyle shift. Throughout her recovery, Pamela focussed on improving the little things in her life, like reducing stress and eating well.  

But Pamela knows the whirlwind that is womanhood – between working full-time jobs, and taking their kids to every activity, women are busy trying to be everything to everyone. To Pamela, the impact of stress on the body shouldn’t be underestimated. Her advice? Be a little selfish and take some time for yourself to live a more balanced life.  

At 36 years old, Rasha found a lump under her arm. Being 8 months pregnant with her son Elias, the GP assured Rasha that it was all part of the hormonal changes that came with pregnancy and breastfeeding. So, she carried on with life as normal. Between raising her son and working, Rasha was constantly on the go until the lump became so painful, she couldn’t ignore it anymore. Rasha visited a new GP to get another opinion, but this time, she was sent to have an urgent mammogram, and then a biopsy. In November of 2021, Rasha was diagnosed with Stage 3, Grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma in situ. 

The treatment was extensive, but Rasha was prepared to start her journey through cancer. Getting through it was the only option she had, for herself, her husband, her son, and her loved ones. Rasha underwent 3 surgeries, five months of chemotherapy, and 25 rounds of radiation. As a new mum and wife, the challenges that came with recovery were more than Rasha could’ve imagined – from changes to her body and hair, to emotional changes that came from the ongoing hormonal treatment.  

As Rasha went through her diagnosis and treatment, she found the courage she needed through her faith, husband, family, friends, and doctors. For someone going through it, it’s hard to see the positive side. But it is okay, it is possible to overcome it and a diagnosis doesn’t mean it’s over. 

To prepare for the breast reduction she’s always wanted, Stev was sent for a mammogram by her GP, but wasn’t expecting the whirlwind that followed. A phone call from the doctor and a round of extra testing confirmed that Stev had ductal carcinoma in situ. 

Soon after her diagnosis, Stev underwent a full mastectomy on her right breast with an implant. Within the same month, before Stev had recovered from her mastectomy, her doctor delivered more bad news – Stev had two tumours and impacted lymph nodes. After surgery, 4 rounds of chemo, 25 rounds of radiation and constantly feeling stuck between staying positive and thinking the worst, Stev was able to take a month off treatment to celebrate Christmas and her 50th birthday.  

Throughout her diagnosis and treatment, Stev continued to be in awe of what the human body and mind is capable of. Fortunate enough to make her health her full-time job, Stev embraced the strength of her husband, family, and friends. With everyone taking care of her, Stev was able to completely focus on her wellness. 

A mammogram, which started off as an act of moral support for a friend, changed Tracy’s life. The mammogram found a tiny lump in Tracy’s breast – so small that it was undetectable by feel. Soon after, the doctor returned with bad news – Tracy had ductal carcinoma in situ.  

As Tracy underwent two lumpectomies, a mastectomy, a breast reconstruction, and chemotherapy to treat her DCIS, she always tried to see the humour in it all. When Tracy was told by doctors that she needed a mastectomy, she thought “Well, I won’t have to cook tonight”. Embracing her sense of humour helped Tracy overcome the challenges that came with cancer treatment, like hair loss, weight loss, and being sick after chemo.  

For Tracy, she didn’t ‘battle’ breast cancer, she simply went through the process of recovery and attributes her health to her treatment regime. Today, Tracy finds joy in seizing the day. Her advice? After diagnosis, a patient’s job is to do what the medical experts tell you to do. That’s all you can do. It’s not a battle, it’s a process. 

Last year, Vanda was showering when she felt a lump in her breast. Even as a typically non-catastrophising person, she knew it was cause for concern. 2 days later, Vanda had an appointment at a breast clinic. By midday, the clinic confirmed it was breast cancer and by 6pm, the biopsy found multiple tumours.  

Vanda underwent a double mastectomy with full skin preserving reconstruction. With the cancer reaching her sentinel node, affecting 3 lymph nodes, she had 6 drains put in. Despite this, within a couple of days, Vanda was almost back to her usual self - walking, laughing, and eating. 

During her diagnosis and treatment, Vanda’s life changed drastically. She found making decisions about what procedure and team to go with taxing and she was staggered by how quickly she’d lost her confidence to go back to the workforce. Her four kids reacted differently, and Vanda quickly found that the less she panicked, the less everyone else did too.  Today, Vanda attributes her courage and strength to her support network, and from a sheer need to get it done, to recover.