Dear Family and Friends, 

Please help raise funds to give others the support I had when I was battling with breast cancer. Also, if I raise a certain amount I will receive a beautiful gift - a beautiful glass photographic portrait of myself by world-renowned portrait and fashion photographer Robbie Merritt -Please donate  and support the work of an incredible local charity - Cancer Support WA.

Please show your support by sponsoring my portrait.

Thank you,

Jean McNally

Jean McNally – My Story

Saturday 26^th February 2011 started out like any normal day. As I sat down at the dining table to eat my breakfast my right breast brushed against the edge of the table and “something” just didn’t feel right. The area around my nipple felt tender and upon further examination (which I must admit I did not do nearly enough) was hard compared to the softness of my left breast. I immediately felt a wave of apprehension sweep over me as I called the Doctors surgery to get an appointment. My GP felt that it warranted further investigation and at this point I felt my first real moment of fear.   I was sent for a mammogram and ultrasound and I knew all was not well when they kept taking more pictures and then asked me to sign a form to obtain my previous images from Breastscan where I had had a routine mammogram 20 months prior. The Radiologist finally confirmed my fear, they had found an area of concern in my right breast and wanted to perform a core biopsy. They were also concerned with an enlarged lymph node in my right armpit and another “mass” in my left breast. How could I have all this going on in my body and not know? The biopsies and fine needle aspiration were scheduled for the following day,  My 49^th Birthday!  I tried to stay calm and be my usual jovial self, especially for my children Andrew 18 and Lauren 13, but I couldn’t stop the thoughts racing through my head, “what if it’s cancer?” I can’t die, I can’t leave my children without their Mother”

One of my dearest friends had been on her own journey through breast cancer 9 years previously, and it was to her that I turned to, along with my husband. At this stage I didn’t want to say too much to anyone else, because it might be nothing, right? I waited anxiously for the next day, trying to enjoy what may be my last birthday. It was a beautiful warm sunny day and I wondered how this could be happening on such a beautiful day. The staff in radiology were amazing, and I joked about how I could think of better ways to spend my birthday. The whole procedure took an hour and my confidence began to wane as I saw images on the screen which I didn’t understand but instinctively knew were not good. I then had to wait 5 long days for my results.

David, has been my GP for over 20 years, he delivered my daughter, so when my husband and I walked into his room I searched his face for any signs of the news he was about to deliver. It was not good news! I had a tumour in my right breast, cells detected in the lymph node and abnormal cells in the lesion in the left breast. I went into shock. No matter how much you try to prepare for the worst it still hits hard. I asked him if it could have spread to other parts of my body and he said it was possible so a bone scan and CT scan was warranted. So many emotions ran through my head in those few minutes, disbelief, anger, fear, and then, right, what do we need to do to fight this? He referred me to a Breast Surgeon, Diana Hastrich at the Mount Hospital in Perth and an appointment made for 2 days later. I tried to be strong but inside I was a mess. I cried to the point that I thought I would never stop. My husband Eddie and I cried together. He felt helpless, not knowing what to do, but I assured him that just having him there by my side was all I needed him to do. The world around me still went on as if nothing had happened and I looked at people in the street and wanted to scream “how can you be so happy when I might be dying?” And then I had to tell the children. That was hard. Andrew seemed to take it in his stride, with his usual “you’ll be right Mum” but I will never forget watching Lauren’s face crumble as the reality of what I was telling them set in. They had lost a nephew to neuroblastoma 3 years earlier and now here was their Mum fighting cancer too.  But I put on my bravest face and assured them it was all going to be fine.

March 14^th 2011, I underwent a lumpectomy in the right breast, auxiliary clearance and removal of a benign lump in the left breast. I had never had an operation before and was apprehensive but all seemed to go well and I was soon home again.  Although I didn’t like the “drain” which had accompanied me home and would be attached to me for over a week! Family and friends were amazing. I received so many cards, flowers, offers to cook and clean the house, phone calls. I never realised until then just how many people really cared about me. It was humbling. Then on 23^rd March 2011 we received a setback. They had found cancer in the margins of the tumour removed from my right breast, and cancer in 5 of the 13 lymph nodes. The tumour was large and aggressive and a mastectomy was required. At this point I remember thinking that cancer was going to take my life. I cried for days until Eddie quite sternly, and surprisingly said to me “So is this it? Are you just going to give up? Or are you going to fight?”  I couldn’t believe he could be so harsh given what I was going through, but it worked. I thank him for those words now. From then on I knew I had to fight!

 First however I would undergo 6 rounds of chemotherapy and the first was scheduled for 6^th April. My wonderful oncologist, Prof Arlene Chan, also recommended I partake in some clinical trials which I gladly agreed to do, and continue to do to this day. I felt this was something I needed to do, not just for myself, but to help others in the future too.

Chemotherapy sucked!  I lost my hair, gradually coming out in strands and then handfuls until I had the remainder shaved off. Strangely enough it didn’t bother me. I embraced my new look and had fun with wigs and scarves. I would come home with a new scarf or hat nearly every week. Every time I had chemo, I imagined the drugs to be like a pacman, eating away at the cancer cells in my body! But the after effects weren’t pleasant. No nausea or vomiting, but aches and pains, the like of which I had never experienced. I just wanted to shoot myself to get away from how bad I felt. I got mouth ulcers, was severely constipated, nothing tasted normal, and I felt so weak. But after a few days I would start to regain strength and I managed to return to work, only taking a week off for each chemotherapy session and then working the other two weeks. CGU Insurance, my employers, were amazing. They supported me in every way, allowing me to step down from my role as a Team Manager and reduce my hours to accommodate my health needs.

In September 2011 I underwent a mastectomy. People have since asked if I will have reconstruction, but at this stage I am not sure. The loss of my breast was not as traumatic as I thought it would be, and whilst I know this is different for everyone, for me it was just what had to be done to fight this dreadful disease.  I also underwent 6 weeks of intensive daily radiotherapy. Again, I would work in the morning and then go for radio in the afternoon. It was draining, and my skin burnt badly, but it was just something I had to do if I wanted the best chance of survival.

I am now 2 years down the road since my diagnosis. Sometimes it seems surreal, did this really happen to me? But I have the battle scars to remind me, and I have developed a strength within that I never thought I had. I value life more now. I loved my children before, but I value time spent with them even more now.  I try not to worry about the future, but there is always that element of worry in the very back of my mind. But I am here now, and I will live in the now, and as time goes on I am gradually starting to make plans for the future too. I couldn’t do that 2 years ago.

 When I was initially diagnosed, I wanted to hear stories of survival, talk to others who had been on their own journey with breast cancer, and cling to any snippet of hope that you can survive this. There was so much support out there in the community, and through family and friends, that I had to give something back, to tell my story. If I can help others by doing this then it has all been worthwhile. And as they say….What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!

Everyone’s journey with cancer is different. Everyone handles it in a different way.  For me, what got me through was my sense of humour and the overwhelming support of those around me. I am truly blessed .Thank you for reading my story. Please make a donation to support others who are on their own journey.

Thank you,

Jean McNally