Every day in Australia approximately 55 people are diagnosed with breast cancer. About one in seven women and one in 700 men will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime. The good news is that Australia has one of the best breast cancer survival rates in the world and advances in screening and treatments have dramatically improved survival rates.
“When I was midway through my third pregnancy, I fractured my neck in a car accident. At the hospital they did scans. Suddenly there were six doctors all standing around my bed telling me I had cancer cells in my spine. After more tests I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer that had already spread to my liver and bones.
I’m living each day as if I have six months left. I don’t appear sick which can sometimes be a double-edged sword. I want people to see me for who I am – a friend, a wife, a mother, a daughter. But at the same time, I need them to understand my limitations. I felt devastated because I honestly believed men couldn’t get breast cancer. I thought it was a woman’s disease. But suddenly, there I was, booking myself in to have my breast tissue removed. I felt so out of place at the breast cancer clinic because it was just me and all these women.The whole thing was very daunting. My operation was the easy part, compared to the six months of chemotherapy that followed.
There were times when I thought I might not pull through. I’m not ashamed to say I thought about suicide. I went to see a psychologist who really helped. Now, I thank god for my family every day. I’d be nowhere if it weren’t for their love and support. We’ve moved from Melbourne now and I’ve learnt to slow down. I still drive buses but just part-time. I don’t take a day for granted. We like to think we’re bulletproof but when you get a diagnosis like this you realise how precious life is.
I thought that if it could save my life, I had to do it. Our four adult children had all left home, so my breasts weren’t really required any more. I also decided against reconstruction surgery. A lot of women – certainly many of my clients – feel pressure to undergo breast reconstruction. Yet reconstructive surgery is a huge endeavour, often involving multiple surgeries, lots of recovery time and the potential for some serious complications.
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