Marg, diagnosed 2009.
Marg was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009. She had surgery, chemo and radiation therapy as part of her treatment, which was a huge financial burden on her family. Marg is grateful for her team of amazing surgeons, oncologists, radiologists and nurses. Read her letter below.
Dear Marg,
It’s been 11 years and three months since you found that hot, weird lump in your armpit. From that to your first chemo treatment was exactly 21 days. Hardly time to sink in, and even in the following 18 months, were a blur – so surreal. It was like a bad dream.
Remember all the times you worried you were going to die, and the days when treatment was so bad, you wished you could die? Remember being obsessed with the numbers game – the stats – 94% cure at 47 years old, and making the decision to just follow all treatment plans in order to play the odds?
Remember the monetary cost? It was a huge burden and almost drove you to financial ruin. It’s hard to believe that back then health funds and Medicare didn’t cover basic tests. You had the best care team available, including not only the gold standard in surgeons, oncologists and radiologists but the most amazing oncology and radiation nurses, including your own breast care nurse, who all made the barbaric treatments bearable.
Now in 2030 you’ll be please to know that we have come a long way in treatments, pain relief and understanding, and we rejoice that there are no deaths from this terrible disease. I am proud to say, that you bravely continued to live your life uninterrupted, and have achieved your dreams. You have learnt to love yourself and your body for its ability to heal and thrive.
Stay well and continue to be fabulous.
Take care, Marg