Wendy's Story
Finding good schools for her kids, enjoying the beachside lifestyle, and looking for new career opportunities – these were the things at the front of Wendy’s mind when she moved her family of five from Adelaide to Mooloolaba 15 years ago. Just six months later, Wendy was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“August 2008 was the first time I got diagnosed with stage three triple negative invasive ductal carcinoma. It was one of those moments when times appears to stand still. Your brain tries to comprehend what is going on. At first, it goes blank, and you feel numb. And then you think, “Oh my god, this is really happening to me.”
I didn’t know who to talk to, where to go, or what to do first. I just told myself, “We can do this.”
After being diagnosed with breast cancer, Wendy moved quickly through an intense course of treatment. She first underwent a lumpectomy, followed by further surgery to remove 23 lymph nodes from her left arm and another tumour shortly after. This was followed by six months of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation.
It was during this time that Wendy reached out to Cancer Council’s 13 11 20 free and confidential phone line, run by experienced health professionals.
“They were good listeners. They understood what I was going through and gave me tools to help me cope. They introduced me to the My Journey diary, and I did the Look Good Feel Good day program where they taught me how to put a wig on and apply makeup for my eyebrows. It was comforting to know they were always only a phone call away, ready to give advice and answer my questions.”
After completing her initial treatment, Wendy had a goal on reaching the five year cancer‑free mark. When at her 5-year mammogram and ultrasound they found another lump, the news was devastating. Wendy made the difficult choice to undergo a double mastectomy, followed by further chemotherapy.
“As strange as it may sound, it was the best decision I ever made... Cancer has changed me for the better in so many ways. Too many take life for granted. You never know what’s going to happen tomorrow. That’s why I am paying it forward and helping others in the same situation. Five years ago, I signed up to become a Cancer Council Queensland volunteer, offering peer support over the phone to ladies who are going through a mastectomy. It is always so powerful to just listen to others who are going through the same journey I went on, to give them hope and strength. I want to share my story and do motivational speaking to not just cancer survivors, but all people who don’t know there is life after cancer.”