A few very long days later, at the age of 41 years, I was given a breast cancer diagnosis. There are a couple of key things I remember the most about this time. Firstly was how quickly your world can change. One day everything was fine, actually, way better than fine, pretty damn great. I probably could not have been happier. I had a wonderful husband, three beautiful children, many amazing friends and a fabulous lifestyle. Then, overnight, everything was not fine; in fact, it was really, really not fine. I went from feeling perfectly healthy one day to being told I was sick . . . really sick the next day. I found that part very tough to get my head around.

The other was fear – pure, intense, agonising fear that I was going to leave my young children without their mother and leave my wonderful husband the monumental job of raising them alone and as a widower before the age of 40.

It took me a couple of days, but then I remembered my motto, “focus your energy on the things you can change and control”. I couldn’t change the breast cancer bit, but I could control how I dealt with it. I was smart enough to realise that I was nowhere near an expert on cancer, and neither was Dr google. My husband and I decided the best strategy was to search globally (if needed) for the best experts to help us through this. The Breast Cancer Research Centre-WA with Dr Peter Willsher and Professor Arlene Chan was the unchallenged winner in being at the forefront of  Breast Cancer Research and management, and luckily for us, they were based in Perth.

It was then that my journey through the incredible maze of breast cancer really began- from the first appointment, we felt like BCRC-WA were guiding us through with the ultimate care, empathy and expertise. The CEO, nurses, administration staff and research unit, are always kind and supportive. Professor Chan and Dr Willsher are true nurturers of the soul and never left us with any doubt that we were in the best possible hands.

My treatment consisted of a mastectomy, six months of chemotherapy followed by another mastectomy, subsequent reconstruction and followed with the removal of my ovaries. Not a walk in the park but by no means horrific.

I decided to “keep moving, keep fighting and keep a smile on my face”. I had three young children (ages 3, 6 and 8) to think about. I figured if I wasn’t frightened, if I kept up as much of my normal routines as possible, and I continued to be the happy mummy they were used to, things would be ok. I am proud to say it worked.

I knew this most when my close friend was recently too diagnosed. I overheard my boy telling her son and his best mate, “don’t worry, your mum will be ok, she will have to have the yukky medicine, but it’s actually fine and no big deal”.

I said at the start of this story that before the moment I found my lumps, I couldn’t have been happier . . . Well, I’m pleased to say I am just as happy today. Perhaps a little more appreciative of the wonderful family and friends I have, perhaps a little less tolerant of the stuff that just doesn’t matter in life and definitely a whole lot more grateful for people like Professor Chan, Dr Willsher and the wonderful team around them.

Please  support breast cancer research at BCRC-WA; your gift will help save more lives.