“I’d never want Taya to go through what I went through” – Rebecca
THERE’S A MOMENT IN EVERY WOMAN’S BREAST CANCER STORY
When she is faced with the possible loss of her dreams, her plans, or even her life. It’s when her doctor says “you have breast cancer”, “your breast cancer has spread” or “your treatment’s not working any more”.
In that woman’s darkest and most frightening moment, you can be there – to make sure her doctor has some good news to follow the bad.
You can do it by making a donation each month to fund Breast Cancer Trials research. Clinical trials are the crucial step that turns laboratory breakthroughs into new treatments and cures for every woman diagnosed or at risk of breast cancer.
With a regular monthly gift to Breast Cancer Trials, you can make sure women in Australia can access the world’s best and latest breast cancer treatments.
Month by month, clinical trial by clinical trial, woman by woman, you can end the devastating toll that breast cancer still takes.
You can be there to save her plans for the future, her dreams and her life.
Rebecca was 29 years old and about to celebrate her 1 year wedding anniversary when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was also 16 weeks pregnant with Taya’s older brother, Isaac.
“The shock I felt at hearing the diagnosis was overwhelming. Naturally, my thoughts went straight to my baby.”
Within a year, she’d bravely undergone a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and a double mastectomy. Amidst it all, at 37 weeks, Rebecca gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
“Looking into Isaac’s beautiful eyes, relief washed over me. ‘You got us through this,’ I told him tearfully.”
Rebecca comes from a family that carries the BRCA1 gene mutation. This means the women in her family who carry the mutation have a 70% chance of developing breast cancer in their lifetime.
Rebecca had no idea she carried the BRCA1 mutation prior to her diagnosis. For many women who are aware of their carrier status, life-altering preventative surgery, such as the removal of their breasts and ovaries, is often the most effective pre-emptive strike to reduce their breast cancer risk.
“I now know that I carry the BRCA1 gene mutation.
“I may have given the gene to any of my kids, but certainly Taya stands out, being my daughter. I would never want her to go through what I went through, to make the choice to have her breasts removed or think about removing her ovaries.”
Taya is a happy, healthy 5 year old who loves school and playing with her brothers, Isaac and Nate.
Taya is too young to know, but one day she’ll be faced with finding out if she has inherited a gene mutation associated with a significant chance of her developing breast cancer.
TAYA BELONGS TO THE NEXT GENERATION WHO’S FUTURES COULD BE SAVED BY CLINICAL TRIALS RESEARCH
A drug that may switch off the culprit cell that leads to breast cancer in those who carry the BRCA1 gene mutation could spare Taya from what Rebecca has been through. That drug is currently being tested in the BRCA-P clinical trial and could be a game-changer for how breast cancer risk is managed in the future.
“I just have to take one look at my little girl, she’s a bundle of fun. There are so many young girls out there like her that I would hate to see go through this.
“She will have to start looking at screening by the time she’s 25, so we’ve got 20 years to get this right and I think there’s time.”
DONATE MONTHLY TO BREAST CANCER RESEARCH
Today, tomorrow – and the next day – there will be another woman like Rebecca hearing the news she has breast cancer. By joining the Breast Cancer Trials Monthly Giving Program, you can be there to save her plans for the future, her dreams and her life.
Your monthly donation will support us to make the most of lab-based discoveries, now happening at a rapid pace thanks to advances in technology. It will mean we can respond quickly when exciting progress is made, and say YES to more breast cancer clinical trials here in Australia.
Month by month, clinical trial by clinical trial, woman by woman, you’ll bring hope and reassurance to the many young women who carry the BRCA1 mutation and ensure they can avoid life-altering preventative surgery.
You can bring the relief of a doctor saying, “There’s a good treatment for you. Let’s get you started.”
You can make sure her survival does not come with a high cost of pain and lasting side-effects.
You can make sure there are treatments available that lower the chances of breast cancer recurrence.
You can make sure women in Australia will benefit from treatments that can save their lives.
YOU CAN CHANGE HER STORY
“It’s really important that we continue to research breast cancer. 1 in 7 women are still diagnosed in their lifetime.
