One woman's experience with breast cancer- Lisa

31 Oct 2019

31 October 2019

During her lunch break at work in Dandenong Lisa noticed the Breast Screen Victoria van parked downstairs and suggested to some colleagues they go down to be checked.

Lisa had no symptoms or signs and no inkling that her spur of the moment decision to visit the van would save her life.

Lisa was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of breast cancer that turned her world upside down.

Married, with 2 children, Lisa had a huge shock when her screen results showed a stage 3, 5.5cm tumour.

She had surgery and underwent 10 months of treatment including a 6 month course of chemotherapy with us at St John of God Berwick Hospital.

Before her diagnosis, Lisa was very active and ran regularly. In fact, during the stressful week waiting for her screen results, she ran the 10km Melbourne Marathon.

“I knew this may be the last time (I’d run),” she explains.

“It was good. It gave me a place to put all of those feelings.”

Walking and running is a form of therapy for Lisa and it continued to help her through treatment.

“Running is my place where I can think and it keeps my mind healthy. It’s important to be aware that it is affecting your mind as well and working at keeping it healthy, as well as your body,” she says.

Hormone treatment after having her ovaries removed threw her into immediate menopause, along with all the symptoms.

Lisa is now working, exercising and regaining her heath, though she says that ‘chemo brain’ still affects her along with intense fatigue.

Her final message to others? Get checked! It’s all about self-checking and taking every opportunity to be screened. Never assume that one clear test means you’re safe forever, continue to be checked as the years go by and trust your instincts.

“I always think that without that van, I wouldn’t have had a chance,” she concludes.