This was the reality Farrah had to face when she was told she had breast cancer. She had less than a day with her baby boy before the cancer train took her away.
Farrah initially discovered a lump in her breast when she was breastfeeding her firstborn daughter. Thinking it was mastitis, a common occurrence when breastfeeding, she didn’t get it checked out. It was only when she mentioned the lump after a routine pregnancy scan that doctors advised her to take further action. Farrah underwent an ultrasound and biopsy, the results of which came through the day she gave birth to her little boy, Rhylan.
I was lying on a hospital bed cuddling my newborn son when the doctor came into the room to share the devastating news. Can you imagine? All I could think was that I might never get to see my precious babies grow up.
Farrah
Before Rhylan was three weeks old, Farrah was undergoing treatment for her cancer.
I couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, I had two small people relying on me for their every need. When I look back now, I don’t know how I survived those first few months
Farrah
It was when Farrah received a phone call from Breast Cancer Care WA counsellor Shelley that life began to turn around. Shelley explained how Breast Cancer Care WA could help, through offering emotional, practical and financial support to Farrah if and when she needed it.
It was amazing just how relieved I was to speak to someone who actually seemed to know where I was coming from, what I was feeling and what I was going through.
Farrah
Along with Shelley, Farrah connected with breast care nurse Moira, who was able to explain the medical processes of her breast cancer and help her make decisions about her treatment. Both Moira and Shelley were there to answer her questions whenever she needed it, or to just spend time with her to make sure she was okay.
Although Farrah was used to handling just about anything, there were times when she felt she just could not cope. On top of everything else, the bills kept coming in and she could hardly keep her head above water. Breast Cancer Care WA’s financial support put food on the table, put petrol in the car to get to her daily radiotherapy, and paid electricity bills to keep her family warm last winter.
Looking back, I was an emotional wreck, but just knowing there was somewhere I could turn if and when I was ready was a great comfort, especially on those days when being positive was too difficult. The most important lesson I learned was that I can’t do it all on my own. Thank you Breast Cancer Care WA for being by my side on this journey.
Farrah
Because of you we can provide people like Farrah and any West Australian affected by breast cancer the services listed above, this all free of charge. By making a caring donation today or by phoning together we can ensure people like Farrah can get the vital care and support they need, when they need it most. Please give generously.