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I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer about a week before my 36th birthday in March 2004. I remember sitting at a restaurant for lunch on my actual 36th birthday, having just seen the Surgeon, and reading “the bible” - a Cancer Council publication on what was happening to me! Paul, my husband, had a bourbon and I had my glass of “Chardy” (nothing was going to stop that!) and we just sat there absolutely stunned. Did I look different? Could people tell? My surgeon had said that I had to make a decision between a partial mastectomy and a full mastectomy – and that chemo word was mentioned too because my biopsy already showed it was an aggressive Grade 3 cancer. Needless to say, the wheel started rolling and I was taken along for the ride – surgery, recovery, chemo and radiotherapy. I think the hardest thing for me to cope with initially was the loss of control - that I couldn’t control what was happening with my body. So when my hair started falling out, the light finally came on, that I could take control by shaving it off! GI Jane look out! So off it all went – I was back in control (even if only for a short time!) I have two children, boys nearly 8 and 5. I’ve been with my husband since I was 16 – so about 22 years and married for 16 of them. I work part-time at an Advertising Agency as an Administration Manager, something which I love and it is a good balance between family and career for me. Paul and I have done some amazing things together, like scuba diving, walking the Milford Sound Track in New Zealand, and a horse riding trek (well ok it was a pub-crawl on horseback! But it took a week and talk about a sore backside!). Our life was great until a business experience in our early 30’s set us back financially to when we were about 18. The trauma of this experience, solicitors, court, frustration at the system etc could have either made us or breaked us, as they say. But we got through that and I actually think that experience helped me with the emotional rollercoaster that comes with a breast cancer diagnosis. I am so positive and full of life now. I take every opportunity that comes along. Small things don’t bother me. Life and priorities are very clear. I saw a poster at the hospital for Dragons Abreast – breast cancer survivors and supporters who dragon-boat paddle. Yes that’s for me, I thought! I had my first paddle before I’d finished radiotherapy. It was through this lovely bunch of ladies that I stumbled upon Amazon Heart. Some of the women, after our Sunday paddle in Newcastle, said they were going out to where some “bike” riders were coming in for a stop, and where other breast cancer fundraising stands would be. I assumed the “bike” riders were push bike riders. When this group of women came in on Harley’s, I was blown away! They were all survivors! It was the Amazon Heart Thunders on their way from Sydney to Brisbane in October last year. The statement that it made to me, was very powerful – not to just passively get back into life, but pro-actively live life to the fullest! I rushed home and looked up the Amazon Heart website. My husband said he could teach me to ride but I’ll admit to being a little bit daunted by it. But, there on the website was the NZ expedition and it was sooner than the next bike ride. Well, I thought – I can definitely walk! I always wanted to go back and do the NZ Milford Sound walk for my 40 th, so I’m thrilled to be doing the Amazon Heart expedition now! I’ll be 38 by the time of the trek and 2 years on from my breast cancer diagnosis. I get so excited just thinking about the trip and I can’t wait to meet all my fellow adventurers! Please help to support my participation in this amazing expedition and to help thousands of women and especially young women diagnosed with breast cancer each year, to access the support they need. Thanks for your generosity!!
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