Today 55 Australian’s will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. 

The aim on the awareness month is to help those affected by breast cancer through early detection, education and support services thanks to the Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA), National Breast Cancer Foundation, McGrath Foundation & Cancer Australia. There are many ways you can support the cause - get online and find a way!

www.bcna.org.au

www.nbcf.org.au 

www.mcgrathfoundation.com.au

www.canceraustralia.gov.au

A personal story

My breast cancer journey began 8 years ago. My 40th birthday.

Life was busy and full of changes around my 40th. My hubby had a new role at work which we needed to move for. He moved and came home on weekends. The girls and I stayed put to sell our house and finish off the school year. Our girls were little, only 3, 6 and 8, and my family all lived 5 hours away. I was also building my agricultural consultancy business, so life was pretty busy and a general juggling act. Thankfully, particularly as the near future was to unfold, we had a few very close and stable mates!

Turning 40 presented the chance to tick off a few medical checks - just because I could. Having a mammogram was one of them. In Australia Breast screen advertise free mammogram testing from the age of 50, but I knew it was available from age 40. Tick - done and dusted! I didn't hear anything for a few weeks, so, no news is good news right?

I happened to be having a rare 'therapy' day out painting with my Mum when I got a phone call telling me that on the routine double check of my scans they noticed some calcification on my breast they wanted to test. I was reassured that due to my age all was sure to be fine, but best we play it safe.

I headed to screening on my own after dropping the kids at school, thinking nothing more than what to organise for tea once the testing was done. I remember clearly sitting in the waiting room with 10 other ladies, most with family or friends with them for support. I couldn’t help but look around the room and think naively to myself that I was the youngest by far, it is most common in older ladies, so all will be fine! Unfortunately I was the last one standing after a very long day. The day ending with my next appointment and told to bring my husband with me…the possibility was finally starting to settle in….

The follow up appointment a long week later, with my hubby by my side, I was told that having a mammogram just because I could, had just saved my life. Our learning curve into all stages of Breast Cancer and in particular to DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) had just begun.

Our girls being young made reality pretty raw. Besides putting on my brave face, when your world all of a sudden felt very fragile, telling the girls all was going to be fine and nothing to worry about was a hard one to pull off. Some days I didn’t. Even harder was telling Mum and Dad and my two older brothers. It’s cruel to scare the hell out of your parents and siblings because of your health, I can still remember that day like it was yesterday.

As anyone that has been through a cancer diagnosis knows, the worst part is the following weeks after diagnosis. Not only was it actually dealing with the big C, which once it is you, it’s an amazingly difficult word to say! Those weeks of tests and decisions which yours and your families lives depend on….totally traumatic.

8 years on I have learnt a lot about myself, about breast cancer and life. I was one of the lucky ones, but you do make your own luck. Don’t be scared of the ‘what if’s’…make your own health a priority, have your screenings and know your boobs. Breast Cancer is most treatable when detected early. You don’t have to have a family history, in fact you don’t even have to be a woman!

Susie Williams

Founder and Owner of the Fleurieu App

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LOCAL BC SUPPORT CONTACTS & SERVICES:

http://www.aldingamedicalcentre.com.au/news/breast-cancer-support-group/

https://www.bcna.org.au/understanding-breast-cancer/

https://www.cancersa.org.au/

https://www.bcna.org.au/understanding-breast-cancer/bcna-helpline/

Susie with Raelene Boyle (Australian Olympic legend) at BCNA (Breast Cancer Network Australia) event. Pink ladies honouring our friends that have died from the disease.