Dear World, I have breast cancer

Wednesday, 17 April 2019

For the first time in my life I'm lost for words and unsure how to share this news.

Last week I found out there's cancer in this bulbous and saggy right breast (pictured below). It's Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) and it is also located in at least one of my lymph nodes.

Mammogram image of my right breast (DCIS seen here as grainy particles circled in middle of breast tissue, invasive cancer seen in "chunky" lymph node circled upper right of picture)

Today I found out I'm having this breast removed on Tuesday 23 April 2019. Yep, that's mastectomy in five days' time.

The moment you’re told that you have cancer in your body, everything changes. Your perspective on life, the way you think about your loved ones, the way you forecast into the future and even the way you berate yourself for previously giving a shit about stuff that is not at all important.

I used to be one of those people who thought that The Big C would affect other people, not me. I used to believe that I would not be the one woman in every eight who would be told that they had breast cancer. Why? I honestly can’t say what made me think I was untouchable which is why it was all the more shocking to be told that it was happening to me.

My breast cancer was found during an impromptu mammogram which I chose to have on a whim, encouraged by my employer promoting the Breast Screen Queensland services. At that time, the other piece of coincidental information pushing me towards having a breast screen was selfish but in hindsight a blessing in disguise. Two weeks prior, my 10 year-old son had accidentally knocked my Garmin watch off the bathroom bench and the watch face smashed. The three-year-old watch was still useable but it was another sign that I was due for an upgrade (oh look, Mother’s Day was fast approaching!) Garmin watches are an expensive investment and there was no way in hell I would have spent several hundreds of dollars on myself out of the blue, so my husband and I discussed buying a new Garmin using retail gift vouchers earned through our life insurance, AIA Vitality. Members of the rewards program earn points for being physically active and undergoing preventative health measures such as flu vaccination, health checks, dental check ups, cervical screenings and – you guessed it – having a mammogram. I knew I could earn 1,000 points from having a mammogram which would get me closer to my next retail gift voucher. I knew that getting my boobs squished in the mammogram x-ray machine would have me well on my way to saving some dosh on my new Garmin.


So the combination of the cracked Garmin watch and the Yammer post by my colleague in the People & Culture team prompted me to contact Breast Screen Queensland. It was super easy to book the service online and the mammogram itself only took around 10 minutes. If you’ve never had one and you’re worried about having your breasts handled and x-rayed, let’s just say that it’s a walk in the park compared to having a pap smear.

Prior to the mammogram I had no signs, symptoms, lumps or physical changes that prompted me to get the mammogram. But I'm grateful beyond belief that it was discovered early and it's treatable.


Treatment beyond surgery will likely include chemotherapy and radiotherapy but this will be determined after the mastectomy. Removal first, everything else comes later.

My anxiety - the type triggered by any sort of ill health or medical procedures - has been off the charts today and will likely roller coaster over the coming days. I'm actually not fussed about being lopsided up top, I'm more worried about my racing heart causing me to vomit on the anesthetist before the surgery!

Thank you to those family and friends who have already offered messages of support, kindness and encouragement to kick this cancer’s arse. Some of you have also offered to visit or assist in other ways and I'm extremely touched by your generosity. Anxiety aside, I can certainly say I didn't envisage my 2019 featuring surgery and treatment for cancer.

Lastly I wish to share my eternal gratitude to my beloved husband, Alex. He has been there for me every step of the way along this journey so far and I know we'll get through this together.