A very deserving winner for this year's Ladies Lunch Canturi Balloon Raffle5 Dec 2022

At this years Ladies Lunch the lucky winner of the Canturi diamond bracelet valued at $15,600 was Pamela Price, who is a breast cancer survivor. Kristy de Garis, Editor at Dumbo Feather, sat down with Pamela to get her story.

How did it feel to have the winning black balloon?

Very exciting I have to say. The balloons were a fantastic fundraising idea. It was a fabulous day, I so enjoyed it and I’m so thrilled with this beautiful diamond bracelet which is five carats of diamonds. I shall treasure it forever and wear it a lot. I’d like to thank Canturi for their generous gift for the raffle.

The Canturi diamond bracelet at the 2022 Ladies lunch.

Have you attended a SCBF fundraising lunch previously?

This was the first SBCF lunch I’ve been to. Over the years I’ve been to many fundraising events of different sorts, but this was such fun after the lockdowns we’ve had.

We understand that you are also a breast cancer survivor. Can you share your story with our community?

I had breast cancer 19 years ago. It was a stage 3 DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) measuring 1cm in my left breast. I was oestrogen positive and progesterone positive. I had a lumpectomy some lymph nodes were removed which were negative, and five weeks weeks of radiotherapy.

There was no family history of breast cancer that I know of. I detected the tiny pea-shaped lump whilst showering and I thought, that wasn’t there yesterday. I got on it right away. Don’t put if off. It could save your life.

There was no family history of breast cancer that I know of, but one of my brothers had bowel cancer. I detected the tiny pea-shaped lump whilst showering and I thought, that wasn’t there yesterday. I got on it right away. I really recommend you don’t hang about – get on the case as soon as possible. Also, if you are called for mammogram, make an appointment right away. Don’t put if off. It could save your life.

What lifestyle changes did you make in the wake of your breast cancer diagnosis?

I wouldn’t underestimate the impact of stress on the body, but everybody’s stressed these days. Women are trying to be everything to everyone, work full-time jobs, take their kids to every activity. There is a huge amount of stress that creates different health problems. It’s very easy to say try to ease your stress, but it’s like a whirlpool, isn’t it?

I recommend women be a little selfish and take some time for themselves. To be selfish occasionally is good. Many women put kids, husband, house, work, everything else first. I say, do something you like, calm down a bit. Do you need to be on the internet night and day?

I’ve always exercised, all my life. For many years it was only aerobics, tennis and badminton. These days it is Pilates, golf, yoga, and I walk a lot. So, exercise is a priority in my life. The same old stuff is always preached, but it’s really important to me.

As for other changes, I wasn’t doing anything bad or eating anything bad. I wasn’t overweight. I was quite stressed at the time of my diagnosis. I was introduced to a woman who was on her second bout of cancer, and she was following a regime of predominantly raw vegetables, salads, fruit and juice diet, as a way of beating cancer. It was quite big at the time. A lot of people who follow that diet don’t make it. She was a version of that, she was going to some of the more extreme ends of healthy eating. I took on a few of her ideas. She survived with conventional treatment as well and is very healthy these days.

Pamela Price with Jessica Rowe & Trish Canturi winning the Balloon Raffle

I ate a lot of sprouted seeds and salads at the time, and I’ve kept going with that. You’re eating vegetables at such a nutritious time in their development with sprouted seeds. Lots of watercress too. Salads and raw food generally have the healthy enzymes that help you to digest foods. And we also filter our water – we’ve got a filter under the sink.

I’m against the oestrogen that can be present in plastic, in particular water sitting in a plastic bottle. I’m not keen on drinking out of them: I always go for my own metal or glass if possible.

I don’t use aerosol spray cans within reason. I don’t use fly or room spray, who knows what they contain, and they are bad for the environment too.

If I buy a smoothie I get the green one, I don’t get the sweet one. There are so many calories in there, a lot of sugar. So I don’t eat too much sugar either. But I never go without a dessert or a couple of chocolate biscuits!

What else do you do to maintain your health?

I feel that vitamin D is very important. Too many people aren’t outside enough. It’s a bit neglected – we are so warned against going in the sun in Australia, it can be a bit of a problem.

I’m not a fanatic, but those are my little lifestyle things. And I’ve enjoyed good health since being treated for breast cancer.

Lastly, I am a Libran. I think I’m a balanced person. What I’d love to say to women today is, try to find some time for yourselves, be a bit selfish and lead a more balanced life. Don’t wear yourself out. It’s what too many women do.

What I’d love to say to women today is, try to find some time for yourselves, be a bit selfish and lead a more balanced life. Don’t wear yourself out. Too many women do.

A big thank you to Canturi for the ongoing support of Sydney Breast Cancer each year.