Leanne Westcott Sarina, QLD Australia Amazon Heart Thunder Australia 2006, United Kingdom 2007 Experienced Rider Click Here to Donate Now!

Hi, my name is Leanne and I am 39.

I have always been fairly quiet and happier to be inconspicuous than to be putting myself out there to be noticed. That was before Breast Cancer. Now I want to show other women that there is hope and lots of living to be done after a Breast Cancer diagnosis.

I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, on my daughters 6 th birthday, at age 33. After finding a hard lump the size of a pea in my left breast I immediately went for a check up and was sent for an ultrasound and needle biopsy just to be sure. Everyone was saying “it is probably only a cyst nothing to worry about at your age”. WRONG. The dreaded C word was delivered and although I remember hearing it, I felt as though I was in the middle of a nightmare waiting to wake up. My husband, Laurence, and I found this to be a very traumatic time but were lucky to be surrounded by very supportive family and friends.

The next hurdle was explaining to our 3 children aged 8, 6 and 3 that I had breast cancer and would need to go to hospital. We had a moment of light relief when the response from one of them was to ask, “what will we eat then because Dad can’t cook”? All we could do was laugh. Having lost a friend to breast cancer only months earlier, my 6 year old then asked “are you going to die Mum”? From that moment on I resolved to fight the fight of a lifetime. The cancer was Grade III very aggressive but the lymph nodes taken from under my arm were all clear. After surgery came chemotherapy and then radiation therapy. One of my worst fears at the time, which now seems ridiculous, was losing my hair. I made an early decision to cut it all off and bought a wig which I rarely wore anyway. Thanks to all the specialists and support people I finally realised that everything that could be done, had been, and I needed to get my life back on track.

My relief at reaching my 3 year milestone was to be short lived. Only weeks before my next check up I found another lump about the same size in my right breast. Filled with dread and hoping for a miracle I rang my surgeon the next morning who organised all the required tests urgently. She was amazing and understood the anxiety we felt at having to wait for tests and results. I wanted to believe this couldn’t be happening again but I think deep down I already knew the results, confirmation was only a formality. Only 3 & ½ years later a second primary, Grade III aggressive breast cancer was the diagnosis and I was off on the road of surgery, chemo and radiation therapy again. Second time around wasn’t quite as terrifying as we knew what to expect. Once again my family and support people stepped in and helped enormously, especially my new friends from our local support group.

7 months after finishing treatment, I decided that I needed to dive head first into life and, with my husband telling me I would be mad if I didn’t, I got my motorbike license so that I could do the Amazon Heart Australia ride. The Aussie ride last year gave me 15 very special sisters, was such an amazing experience and holds many happy memories for me. When I heard about the UK ride I new I wanted to do it one day too, I just didn’t think it would be so soon. I can’t wait to see and ride with Meredith, Megan and Liz again and to meet the other participants. What better way to see some beautiful countryside than on a Harley with a group of special friends defying the big C word.

When we’re not out on our road bikes, we are probably on our trail bikes with the kids and friends. I am also a founding member of our local Dragons Abreast paddling team and I love spending quality time with my family at the beach. My husband and 3 children have been there every step of the way for me. They have travelled and weathered the good and bad right along side me helping me when I needed them most. It is thanks to them and their support that I am able to participate in this adventure.

Funds raised go to Dragons Abreast and Amazon Heart in Australia to help support breast cancer survivors, so please donate.

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