New confidence for cancer sufferers

Sara James of Blackwater (left) and Bronwyn Schultz of Biloela talk about their cancer ordeals with Dr Elamurugan Arumugam at Rockhampton’s Mater Hospital.

MEGAN LEWIS Ml--

THE day after a doctor told Blackwater’s Sara James she had cancer, she was operated upon and had a breast removed.

But you wouldn’t know, looking at Sara yesterday.

Sara joined Biloela’s Bronwyn Schultz as they shared their stories about their recent cancer ordeals, singing the praises of a breast reconstruction service now offered at Rockhampton’s Mater Hospital.

The service means women who have had mastectomies no longer have to leave Central Queensland for treatment.

Both Sara and Bronwyn were diagnosed with breast cancer in July last year, had surgery, underwent months of chemotherapy and in the past couple of weeks have had their breasts reconstructed.

Sara, 36, wasn’t going to go ahead with the procedure initially.

“I wasn’t going to get this done; I thought this awful thing has happened to me and this is who I am now,” the mother of two young children said.

“But, I’m fairly young and decided to go ahead with it.”

She said the operation had enabled her to gain her confidence back.

“I think I look better now than I did before, so I’m happy with that,” Sara said.

She said she was diagnosed with breast cancer on a Monday and operated on the next morning.

The following six months she underwent the painful experience of chemotherapy.

“It all happened so quickly at the start,” Sara said.

“It was good not having time to dwell on things.”

Bronwyn shared a similar story.

After the operation to remove the cancer and ongoing chemotherapy she wanted to get her life back on track.

“To me it’s about what you are left with,” Bronwyn said.

“I want to live a long time.

“I had done some research on plastic surgeon specialists in Brisbane and was given a couple of referrals for them.

“All the word was I had to get to Brisbane to get this done.”

She said once she found out the operation could be done in Rockhampton she decided to stay.

“Cancer is one of those things you have to deal with, it’s something that happens,” Bronwyn said.

Dr Elamurugan Arumugan, a plastic, reconstructive and cosmetic surgeon operating out of the Mater Hospital, said it was rewarding helping women regain their self-confidence.

“Women don’t have to live without breasts any longer,” Dr Arumugan said.

“Twenty to 30 years ago people had to live without breasts after the cancer, but that’s no longer the case.”

He said many women before reconstructions felt unhappy, but the smile quickly came back after the procedure as their self-esteem and image returned.

“The good thing is this is a once in a lifetime procedure,” Dr Arumugan said.

He said women with too small or large breasts also could benefit from surgery.

Breast facts

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Australian women, accounting for 28% of all cancer diagnoses in 2006;

The number of women diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia increased from 5289 in 1982 to 12,614 in 2006;

By 2015, the number of new breast cancer cases among women is projected to be 22% higher than in 2006, with an estimated 15,409 women expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer;

There were 2618 female deaths from breast cancer in 2006; and,

One in nine women will be diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 85

Source: National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre