Margaret’s Story

My name is Margaret and my breast cancer life started in 1987. I was 43 working full time, living with my husband John and two teenage sons, Anthony 17 and Simon 13yrs. I had found a lump in my left breast but didn’t act on this for four months partly due to starting a new office manager job. A big mistake. I had a lumpectomy and lymph nodes removed, with the cancer spreading to the first three. I was given five months of chemotherapy (CMF) but no radiation. The chemo affected my mental capacity more than anything and after several months I left my stressful employment. I cried a lot in this period as my surgeon/oncologist kept telling me there was nothing I could do to help myself. I did research cancer treatment books and bought Ian Gawler’s book “You Can Conquer Cancer” which gave me some hope. John could not have been more caring and supportive. Later I regained employment managing the secretariats of several small industry based associations.

In 1989 a new cancer was discovered also in my left breast. I had a mastectomy with a silicon prosthesis implanted in the same operation. I did not bother to have a full breast reconstruction. No further treatment was given. I got on with life but months later the grief of losing a breast suddenly came to the fore when I was buying a new bra and I remember being alone and absolutely weeping in the fitting room. My busy home and work life continued with John and I enjoying a wonderful overseas trip in 1991 to Europe, England, Scotland and Ireland with friends. In 1992 my mother passed away at 85yrs from heart trouble.

In 1997 my first metastatic cancer occurred when the breast cancer spread to the pleura. I had a pleurodesis operation and put on tamoxifen as I was diagnosed as over 90% hormone receptor positive. I was under the care now of a medical oncologist at Cabrini. For several years I also saw a Naturopath as well as maintaining regular GP contact.

1997 was also a tragic year for me and our family as we lost my youngest brother at 46yrs in a mining work place death. The boys were growing up, finding work but still at home until Anthony bought his own home when he was 26 and later married in 2004. My own work life changed to working from home still managing an association secretariat, doing the bookwork for John’s small motor mechanics business and handling my father’s farming accountancy as he had no idea about the new GST obligations.

In 2006 following an abdomen ultrasound I was diagnosed with more metastatic disease in the liver and lungs following CT scans and bone scans. The liver by this stage was badly infected and I thought my life would probably end until I heard Lyn Swinburne the CEO of the newly formed Breast Cancer Network Association on ABC RN radio saying the BCNA had members with liver metastasis for up to 16yrs. This was manna from heaven for me and I said to my oncologist I’m going to live until I’m 80!! I had a liver biopsy and was put on Femara (Letrozole) which worked wonders shrinking the liver tumours and the small lung tumours dramatically.

The seriousness of these secondaries made me realise I needed much more help and I contacted The Gawler Foundation. They were running a course close to my home, one morning a week for 12 weeks. This was an in depth course on cancer equivalent to their 10 day live-in course at Yarra Valley Living Centre and I started in February 2007. Subjects covered were – Positive Thinking; Food and Nutrition & Healing; Pain Management; Healing – take control, be a fighter, be informed, meditate; Causes of Cancer and typical psychological profile; Imagery; Empowerment; Living & Dying; Healthy Emotions; and the Philosophy of Health and Wellbeing.

The course was exactly what I needed. I changed my eating habits avoiding red meats (too hard for the liver to digest) but limiting all meats and no processed meats, no dairy, no sugars, sweets or cakes, no alcohol (which wasn’t a problem anyway), no caffeine – I drank dandelion teas, herb teas and green teas, and consumed much more of a plant based diet having lots of berries, watermelon, beetroot and other red vegetables, fruits and juices. The big change came in my commitment to meditate regularly. I certainly began to feel much better in myself.

In the following years I have done refresher courses at The Gawler Foundation on Cancer & Beyond and Meditation weekends that I have found valuable.

I remained on Femara until December 2012 but this was changed to 3rd line Aromasin therapy as my tumour markers started creeping up. Then in May 2013 Everolimus (Afinitor) – an antineoplastic chemotherapy drug classified as an “mTORkinase inhibitor” was added to the Aromasin. At first it was difficult to get the dosage right which caused many side effects and I ended up in hospital with pneumonitis. I continued on these tablets but as my tumour markers and liver tumours began to increase the medication was changed to the chemotherapy tablet drug Xeloda in Feb 2015. Xeloda gave me quite a lot of neuropathy in the hands and feet and I lost both my big toe nails. The dosage was reduced to lessen these effects. I stayed on Xeloda to May 2017 when I started having Caelyx intravenous chemotherapy which again caused many side effects including very low white cells. It was necessary for me to inject myself frequently with Zarzio to boost the white cell count. In September 2017 my intravenous chemotherapy was changed to Eribulin but it was still necessary to have frequent Zarzio white cell injections. The neuropathy in hands and feet continued as well as other side effects. In April 2018 the Eribulin chemotherapy was stopped and I had a 4 week break from all medication. It was then decided to revert to endocrine treatment again and I started taking Femara which reduced my tumour markers for several months. In May 2019 a PET scan revealed I now had metastasis in 3 bones – sternum, L5 spine and right pelvis and I started having monthy Denosomab (Xgeva) injections. I was also switched to Fulvestrant (Faslodex) injections and had these for 4 months but it was clear they were not working at all. Again the decision was taken to have intravenous chemotherapy and I started Gemcitabine on 11-11-2019. The cycle is 3 Mondays running and then 1 week off. It has been necessary to reduce the Gemcitabine strength to prevent deterioration of the liver but fortunately this is working so I will continue on the chemo.

Throughout all these years of treatment I have been supported well by my family and friends and John and I have had some wonderful holidays both overseas and in Australia usually escaping north to avoid Melbourne’s cold winter which bothers me. I place a lot of importance on exercise and for many years have enjoyed my weekly 2hr U3A Walking Group, 2 exercise classes and John and I do Tai Chi (Qi Gong) weekly as well. I also love my U3A Art History and Appreciation class and believe it is so important to have things that stimulate to look forward to. Our 2 sons have given us 2 granddaughters each whom we absolutely adore and have regular family catch ups. I remember days in the past when I didn’t think I’d ever have a grandchild and now our eldest is 11 with the youngest 3 so life is very beautiful.

Being asked to join the Thursday Girls support group has been wonderful for me. The friendship, caring, sharing, supporting and love within the group is remarkable and it is excellent being with women on a similar journey. Thank you Sue and Marg for the support you give to the group.

I am aware my BC life is becoming more difficult as I run out of treatment options and my liver particularly is weakening but I am quite philosophical about my future and give thanks for the 32yrs I have survived and the life and love I have enjoyed during my treatments. Through a disease like BC you can learn so much about yourself and this helps you to respond to the very intimate ‘you’ which in the end will bring peace and love.

December 2019