Dimitra Atkins Manly, Queensland Australia Amazon Heart Thunder Australia 2007 New Rider   Click Here to Donate Now!

My journey began on June 12 th 2006. With much anticipation the girls from work had organized an early lunch. A visit to the doctor put a spanner in the works that changed my life more than I could have possibly imagined.

I didn’t believe in my wildest years that I could be diagnosed with Breast Cancer. I was 37 with two boys and I had just started a great job. Nobody in my family had been diagnosed with this disease… why me? I can recall thinking to myself ”this must be a mistake."

Two weeks later I had surgery for a lumpectomy and 9 lymph nodes were also removed, it was stage 1 the least evasive and it hadn’t spread. This is the best diagnose I could have had. However, because of my age my doctors said that I should have Chemo, six doses in three week intervals and radiation after that. I had decided even before I went to see my Chemo Oncologist that I would be doing it. This was not an option for me; I wanted to see my boys grow up.

I decided to work through it and see how I went. This was easier said than done. After my first treatment I spent the night in the bathroom, sick as anything I didn’t get enough drugs to stop the nausea, by morning I was dehydrated and feeling terrible. I called the hospital and they got a script to me from the nearest chemist to my house.

I had mid length long hair, and my boys were very concerned about me loosing my hair. We decided to cut it all off before the 2 nd treatment and it was after this that I lost all my hair. I came to realize how much this was affecting my family when I took my kids to the park one afternoon. It was a Queensland winter, and I recall wearing a beanie and poncho and still struggling to keep warm. Alex was 6, and he was being quiet dangerous when I told him to come and sit next to me for time out. He came over and was so angry at me, he pulled off my beanie and said “I loved you when you had hair!” I burst into tears; what do you say to a six year old? It was the little things that got us through like the weekend at Moreton Island tobogganing on the sand dunes, and my family that traveled so far to be with us. We just tried to keep it as normal as possible at home. My boy’s teachers were great having had similar experiences.

By the second treatment my mum had come to stay with us to mind the boys and help me at home. I especially want to thank Helena and Jarmille who both traveled from Melbourne to help me and my family in the early days of my diagnosis.

The chemo was horrible I dreaded it like a child being punished. Words can’t describe what I was going through. Just as I started feeling better I would have to go back to hospital for the more. This was such a painful experience, watching them manually push the white and red fluids into my veins. I wasn’t well and there were times when my veins completely collapsed.

When I was well I would go to work and be lucky to last for half the day then back home to bed. Work kept me busy and this is what got me though, it took my mind off what was happening and my boys gave me a reason to keep going.

My employers allowed me to have as much time off as I needed, I would work two weeks part time hours and then a week off or until I felt able to come back to work. The team at Computer Merchants were like an extended family to me. Their support, understanding and encouragement was overwhelming. They knew how I felt without me expressing it. I can’t tell you how much it meant to have this incredible team behind me every step of the way, and still carry with me today. Check out my team on www.computermerchants.com.au

I remember going to the U2 concert and then two days later I had my last chemo, it was my husband’s birthday. My last radiation treatment was in January on my son’s birthday, a date I would not forget.

I am not a fighter of Cancer, I haven’t fought and won. I have had to learn to survive and have the courage and strength to do things that I normally would never do. My next challenge is facing my 12 month check up end of June 07.

When I heard about the bike ride, I have never been so excited in all my life. One of my dreams is to ride a Harley, and now I have not only the opportunity, but also the courage to do this.

I am now in the process of getting my bike license and buying a bike (very exciting)! I am looking forward to meeting all the girls on the ride and fulfilling a life long dream….

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