Maureen’ Story

In 1988 I had just returned from Sydney where I had celebrated the re-enactment of the First Fleet with my family. My children were 8, 6 and 4 when a lump was discovered behind my right nipple. The cancer had spread to my lymph glands and my outlook was poor. I had a lumpectomy and for the next nine months alternate radiotherapy and chemotherapy. I also had an iridium implant which involved being locked in a lead room overnight. In September 1989 I began the five-year wait for the all clear.

However in 1992 another tumour was discovered in my right breast and I had a full mastectomy. I continued 6 monthly visits to the wonderful Peter Mac, later becoming annual visits.

Twenty years later in 2008 I began having breathing problems and eventually, after consulting nine doctors including an allergy specialist, it was discovered that I had superior vena cava obstruction with mediastinal and lung disease. I had two weeks of radiation and commenced tamoxifen, then letrozole. In 2013 I switched to femara, followed by a trial in 2018 at the RMH of tamoxifen and venetoclax. In 2019 I commenced capecitabine as PET scan showed the cancer was growing in my liver. In 2020 I commenced oral vinorelbine after a PET scan showed further progress in the liver. In February 2021 a PET scan showed progressive disease in the bones, liver and right supraclavicular fossa. I then commenced i/v Abraxane which kept the cancer stable for 6 months. In November 2021 I switched to i/v Eribulin which was not successful. In 2022 I tried oral Caelyx which was also not successful. In June 2022 I tried T-Dxd which had only just been successfully trialled for HER2 low MBC but it was too late.

I consider myself very fortunate to have been able to try 10 different treatments, most of which have been successful. My husband and I have and many happy holidays in Australia and overseas since my metastatic diagnosis. When I was diagnosed in 1988 I prayed that I would live to see my children finish primary school and now my grandchildren are at primary school. I have been very lucky.

Being a member of the Thursday Girls has made my journey easier. They are a wonderful group who share their stories of living with cancer as well as sharing information on new treatments and medical developments.