I am 27 now but was diagnosed at 25/26 years of age single, no children and living in Melbourne. To get my diagnosis was hard as i was told i was to young i moved to tassie to be closer to my family after my first round of chemo as i suffered as seizure from it. My father was also diagnosed with cancer around the same time, i have had chemo, double masectomy and reconstruction. Since my diagnosis i have also found out i have braca1, even though there is no breast cancer in my family, it has come down from the male side!!! Would love to come to QLD to meet women of similar ages and condititions as I still have some medical descisions to make! Since being diagnosed i have met so many wonderful and strong people, love life and rarley complain!!!
Hi, my name is Tanya and this is my friend Samantha. We were both diagnosed with BC in 2007 and went through chemo together! Only we didn’t know each other when we were diagnosed. She lives in South Australia and I live in Queensland. We met on an online forum for women with Breast Cancer. We seemed to have so much in common besides the fact that we both had Breast Cancer. We have since met up in person and got on great. We now keep in contact with phone calls, emails and have just recently introduced our husbands to each other during another visit last year. We are both planning on coming to the Cancer Council conference at the Gold Coast later in the year and can’t wait to catch up with each other again!!
I am 32 years old and was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in December 2009. I had a mastectomy just before Christmas and it's has been a whirl wind of unexpected appointments since including follow ups with my beautiful surgeon Belinda, physiotherapy, encologist and IVF. On top of that I have quit work, weaned my 16 month old son Max and handed over a lot of his care to others. It feels like we are in a bad dream and we have had our moments but we have mostly remained positive. I have met so many lovely health care workers every step of the way and attending support groups has been invaluable. I really hope to make it to this years conference in 2010 as I would like to make a contribution to this field. I have attatched a photo of myself with my family. Regards, Deanne Davis
My name is Janelle. I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer at 23. It seems it was also always secondary, (June 2008) from the post-op scan. I relocated back to my home town from the south east corner once diagnosed to be close to my family. Family are the most important. Adjustment and letting go has been required. I retired at age 24 due to brain progression. My mind/attitude towards life has changed to more enjoyment than I have ever previously experienced. I have no children. No partner – not looking. Am in a support group. I happily live, independently, doing what I want to.
Hi, my name is Tanya and this photo is of my gorgeous children who were 2 and 4 when I was diagnosed. We walked at the Relay for life and I was bald from chemo. I wanted it to be a celebration of life and didn’t want it to be a sad experience for them so we made shirts and they were allowed to iron on something fun too (Ben 10 was big in their lives).
This photo was taken of me and my friends who put on a concert for me after I got diagnosed in July 2008. I had just had my first chemo round and lost all my hair so they thought they would do a Pink Angel Concert for me. To cheer me up and show there love and support. My best friend Kylie organised it and raised a little bit of money for Breast Cancer.
Hi, I’m Jo Trace from Coolangatta, Queensland. I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in July 2006 (ironically, breast cancer awareness week) at the age of 46yrs and it is a frightening & challenging time no matter what your age. My breast cancer diagnosis is by far the worst thing that has ever happened to me in my lifetime, but, it led me to one of the best things that has happened to me in my lifetime....the Amazon Heart Organisation..... on two motorcycle adventures within Australia with groups of the most amazing women from all over the world who are now my lifelong friends. Photo during chemo.
My name is Lee and I was diagnosed with BC Jan 09 at age 40. I have my 6 month check next week. A week after my last radium treatment, I went on a trip around Australia with my husband in a helicopter.
I just went for a baseline screening at 40, never felt the lump, couldn't even feel it after the biopsy. No history in the family, so I am ever so grateful to the Breastscreen team.
I discovered that I had widespread DCIS after having a mammogram at Breast Screen Mackay in October 2005 ( Age 43). Within two weeks I had a left breast mastectomy (27/10/05) followed by a reconstruction surgery in March 2007 and then reduction surgery on the right breast in July 2007. I have been on Tamoxifen since November 2005 due to being oestrogen positive. I have made a lot of friends since my diagnosis as I became a member of Dragons Abreast Mackay and also a young support group called AWAY BC (Armed With Attitude + Youth against Breast Cancer).
Jo Trace (Coolangatta, Queensland. Diagnosed July 2006 at the age of 46yrs) with my daughter Carly.
Hi, I'm Jo, from Victoria. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2005 at age 32. I have been living with secondary breast cancer since March 2008. March is not my favourite month! Living with breast cancer has had its ups and downs. I have met some great young women, through being involved in support groups and YABC which is one of the positives in what can be an overwhelming experience. Having breast cancer has sharpenned my priorities in life, and one of these is experiencing things, I love to travel. I am doing my best to live with it and embrace the here and now. Since being rediagnosed in 2008 I have watched sunsets in Fiji, swam with dolphins in New Zealand and also had a helicopter ride to Franz Josef Glacier (pic is of my husband and I), moved from Melbourne to be by the sea side, snorkelled the great barrier reef... to list a few.... It is about living with it...
In 1999 I had a radical mastectomy. Then in 2006 I had uterus cancer, and am still going strong at 78. Jewell Lemke
This was a photo taken about 2 weeks after my last radium treatment in June 2009. My husband on the left) had to fly a helicopter with another pilot to Western Australia and back, luckily we could time it for after my last treatment. We left QLD and flew via Moree, Burke, Broken Hill, Ceduna, Meekathara, Karratha, Broome, Daly Waters, Mt Isa and Longreach before getting back to the East coast 10 days later. We laughed all the way over and back, it was nice to totally disengage from the previous months of surgeries and doctors. Most spectacular was seeing the different colours, from the greens of the wetter Eastern Coast, to the deep vibrant blues of the SA Bight, to the reds and oranges of Western Australia. Even the river patterns were amazing. I took 2000 photo's. Australia matches Alaska for its beauty, just a different beauty. Cheers, Lee Ponder
Tanya and I were born one year apart, are mothers to 2 children, run small businesses with our husbands, have great senses of humour, love the odd drink or two, and think of each other as “soul sisters”. Yet we met for the first time face to face, last August! Tanya lives in Charters Towers, QLD and I live in Adelaide, SA. I first saw “TANYA” on the BCAUS Online Forum. We followed and supported each other through the ups and downs of surgeries and treatments. We both attended the BCNA Members Group Conference last Aug where we first met. I hadn’t laughed or cried so much as those 3 days, it was a very emotional time and I couldn’t think of anyone I would rather have shared it with. We talk and email regularly, have become part of BCNA’s New Website Working Party and are looking forward to the Young Women's Conference in Sept when I can give her a big hug again! Samantha DiCicco
Jo Trace (Coolangatta, Queensland. Diagnosed July 2006 at the age of 46yrs) with Amazon Heart Thunder group, Adelaide Hills 2007.
Meredith (Brisbane, Qld, diagnosed at age 33) - inspiring trip to India just after chemo in 2001.
Meredith (Brisbane, Qld, diagnosed at age 33) - posing with California Highway Patrol Seargant Price 9 years later.
