A Short Chat
In Australia, prostate and breast are the most common, with over 50,000 new cases a year diagnosed. The need for funding of research and support for patient wellbeing has never been more critical. Behind the numbers each ‘case’ is a story, a personal journey full of physical and emotional challenges.
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I was born in New Zealand. When I was 8 my parents bought a yacht and we moved to Australia after sailing the South Pacific for 10 months. I went to school in Mount Barker and dropped out in year 10, and after that I did a year in TAFE and started working (at Hungry Jacks!). I went on to then join the Australian military (ADF) after a while, for about 10 years full-time, and had my daughter. When she was 4 I left the military and studied nursing, so I now work in the Women and Childrens Hospital in Paediatric Emergency. As a kid I did ballet, danced (hip hop, jazz, funk, line dancing, competition pole dancing (7th in the state!), and I was line dancing up until the cancer diagnosis. Currently doing pilates.
Before you were diagnosed, had you had anyone close go through something like this?My father had a brain tumour and he opted for VAD.
Is there any moment or memory in your journey that stands out for you?
When I went to have my ultrasound to check my lump, I told my partner that he didnt need to come to appt because nothing was going to come from the scan (i.e. very sure it wasnt cancer) but he insisted on coming anyway. Thank goodness he did because when mammogram was done, they were like “Hmmm, I think we need to do an ultrasound. Also, I think we’ll skip the aspirate and go straight for a core biopsy”. From the scan, the sonographer could see a lot of shadowing (as opposed to a clean cyst like structure) which she was very suspicious about. As a nurse, the sonographer was more open about what she saw and her suspicions. So much so, the sonographer said “If I was a betting woman, I’d put all my money on this being cancer”. Because sonographers usually never say much, yet she was prepared to say what she said, that said it all... I’m very pleased she told me because I would’ve been worrying about it anyway"
Do you think this experience has changed you?Yes, though it may be too early to tell. But I’ve gotten better at spending money because you never know what might happen tomorrow. For example, I’m going to the US next week so I just bought tickets to the World Cup!. I’m not as caught up in stuff anymore.
How was your Can-B Fit experience? How did it feel when you finished?Can-B Fit was so good. We had such a fun time, particularly getting to know each other and exercising together. So much so that when it was finished, we asked for extra sessions!
Will you continue on with the exercises?Yes because I don’t want my cancer to come back! It’s part of who I am anyway. It helps me to feel normal. I do Pilates and I walk the dog. When I’m feeling better, I aim to get back running.
Is there anything else you would like to share?I’m thankful for the support and getting to do the exercise with you guys and having another resource/information for exercising safely following my breast cancer diagnosis.
“ When I went to have my ultrasound to check my lump, I told my partner that he didn’t need to come because nothing was going to come from the scan, but he insisted on coming anyway. Thank goodness he did because when mammogram was done, they were like “Hmm, I think we need to go straight for a core biopsy”.
