Leah’s Story
My name is Leah Stupar. My cancer journey began when I developed mastitis while breastfeeding my second child. A while after I finished feeding, I noticed some lumps. A doctor felt comfortable they were part of mastitis and didn’t do a biopsy. A few months later, one of my breasts felt bigger and it dimpled when I squeezed it gently, but it wasn’t painful. Around this time, Kylie Minogue was diagnosed and I realised no one was immune from breast disease. I sought a second opinion. A biopsy revealed I had a 5.5cm grade 2, stage 3, oestrogen positive invasive lobular carcinoma.
My surgeon told me rather abruptly my chances of surviving the next 5 years were 30% at best and I should “go home, eat chocolate, drink red wine and make the most of my children”. I was 32 years old. My husband and I drove home in shock not knowing where to turn.
I met a lady at the Cancer Council who gave me hope. She had a very similar story to mine. She was also diagnosed at 32 but still going strong in her 60s. I needed to find the best oncologist and get this thing sorted. Enter Professor Arlene Chan.
After my surgery, I went to Arlene’s office full of anxiety but she quickly put me at ease. Prof Chan dismissed my surgeon’s comments. She told me she had stats of women in the same situation as me and they were still going strong after 10 years. She asked me if I was prepared to fight and explained I was young and fit so she’d be hitting me hard with treatment to give me the best possible chance.
4 years after my diagnosis, I no longer felt under threat. Had I been diagnosed 5 years earlier, the outcome would not have been good. A few people had survived like the lady I met at the Cancer Council but most didn’t. The reason I’m here today is unequivocally because of research. Without the trials and research that had been done before I was diagnosed, I would not be here. I’m now 12 years cancer free. I have an 18 year old son, a 14 year old daughter and a gorgeous husband by my side.
Please support Breast Cancer Research Centre-WA; the work they do saves lives. I’m living proof.
Share Your Story
Are you a patient of the PBCI and would like to share your story with breast cancer as part of our Stories of Hope series on our website and Newsletter?
We love hearing our patient’s stories and sharing them with others at the very beginning of theirs. For more information on how to be involved, contact us.
