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Young women personal stories and poems

This is a collection of personal stories and poems from young women. We are also interested in your story and stories from partners, family and friends. If you would like to contribute, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Lee Sieracki WA, diagnosed age 38 'From Final Breastfeed to Early Menopause'     Marie Lapiejko VIC, diagnosed age 37 'Weddings, Parties ... Chemo!' Annie Robertson ACT, diagnosed age 28 'I was officially diagnosed on 28 August 2006. The next day I had a pregnancy test which was also positive.'   Nikki Dwyer Vic, diagnosed age 23 'I will forever be a different person because of this disease. I know what is important, what really matters and I plan to use that knowledge for the next, at least, 50 years.'   Kylie Blackwell Vic, diagnosed age 32 'No hair and a massive belly' Debbie Rielly Vic, diagnosed age 34 'What Lies Behind Us And What Lies Before Us Are Tiny Matters Compared To What Lies Within Us!'   Joanna Mason Vic,Diagnosed age 27 'I have recently joined a support group especially for young women in Melbourne's West and have found that sharing experiences with other young women has been calming, reassuring and gives me a feeling of belonging in such an exclusive club. Slowly the cloud is letting through some sunshine.'   Kylie Rowe NSW, diagnosed age 31 'All I have ever wanted was to be a mum'   Michelle Bugeja Vic, diagnosed age 37 'I was single at the time so I went to my mammogram and doctor's appointments alone. I didn't really expect them to tell me I had cancer.' Rosie Muller Qld, diagnosed age 36 'The surprising thing was that the best discoveries of my life happened as a result of breast cancer.' Skye Santos Vic, diagnosed age 29 'Rebuilding the House of Cards'   Vannessa Estigarribia Vic, diagnosed age 36 'My daughter would like to be a hairdresser when she is older, so I let her cut my hair once it started falling out. She wanted to help and I think this was her way of dealing with it. My son also had a cut of my hair. It was a fun time for them, but was depressing for me, but it helped having the kids involved during this time.'   Karen Jones QLD, diagnosed age 32 'I sometimes think he found it harder than me because everyone gives the woman support, people often forget that our partners are also going through this with us - just not the physical aspect of it.'   Kerrie Skene Vic, diagnosed age 34 ‘What Next.....' Kristyn Dawe SA, diagnosed age 38 'So all I can say, is everybody must be vigilant and if you ever have any queries, see your doctor.' Tracy Coves QLD, diagnosed age 39 'I guess the main thing I learnt throughout the whole process is everyone is different, treatments are different and your reactions to each step are different. The main thing I would say is be true to yourself, don't feel that you have to act in a certain way or worry about what people think' Jodie Stewart VIc, diagnosed age 33 'The support from other breast cancer survivors where invaluable when I was making decisions.' Olivia Flavell Vic, diagnosed age 35 'I felt myself hyperventilating and thinking of nothing more than my two beautiful kids and what I would miss out on.' Maria Sardea diagnosed age 33 'I think the scariest thing for me was coming to terms with the fact that I would need to have chemotherapy and I would have to sit my two sons down and tell them mum has cancer and needed ‘special medicine to make her better'.   Sharon Jocic Diagnosed age 36 'The BCNA were fantastic for providing me with the My Journey kit which has been my saviour. I have learnt that you must speak up for yourself or people will make decisions for you that could possibly change your outcome.'       Madaleine Byers WA, diagnosed age 37 ‘I have found it to be not only a physical but a psychological trauma. Athalie O'Sullivan QLD, diagnosed age 40 'My Sister's diagnosis of Breast Cancer saved my life' Lisa Tennekoon WA, diagnosed aged 31 'I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It's almost 14 years ago now! The diagnosis for a woman of any age is extremely confronting. As a young woman, the issues I faced were unique to me.' Bev Artiss Goulburn NSW, diagnosed aged 41 'My journey with breast cancer began when my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 35 ... She lived in New Zealand and lost her battle with cancer at the age of 41 ... at 41 was found to have a 'suspicious' lump ... I live in Goulburn, and work as a nurse ...'     Janelle Pritchard diagnosed with advanced breast cancer, aged 45 in May 2003 '... My husband had great difficulty coming to terms with the news and became very depressed. While in hospital recovering from a mastectomy to my left breast, I met a lady called Anna. Anna shared my room at the Mater Private Hospital in Brisbane. Anna was an elderly lady. She was 72 years young ...' Lieke diagnosed aged 26 in June 2001 '... I am from Holland ... In October 2002, I flew to Sydney for the Field of Women, after an Australian friend of mine, Shannon, told me about it. She wanted to plant a lady for me as support, but I decided to fly over to be there with her. It was a wonderful experience. I was touched.'       Sherie McGaw Just Me   Rita Marigliani diagnosed aged 32 in 2001, writing in October 2003 '... one morning, lying in bed with my new boyfriend, I discovered two small lumps as I was scratching an itch under my left armpit. Instantly I felt a sick feeling in my stomach - my mother had died of breast cancer ...'     Alison Piper Viewbank, Vic 'I have received so many 'get well' cards, phone calls and well wishes that I have written my story so that those who may love and care for me may understand breast cancer and the treatments better ...'   Diane Wilson diagnosed aged 34, recurrence four years later in 2001 '... Two tumours were found in the same breast and the verdict was a total mastectomy. I still recall sniffling as I walked from one test to the other and all of my fears of losing a breast came back ...'     Jane Murphy diagnosed aged 40, writing in 2002 '... Breast Cancer Network Australia was a wonderful support for me and I know will be a wonderful support to my sister. I am forwarding on your email address and NSW contact details so she can join the group and feel part of a group who are 'in the know'. '   Mary Doyle diagnosed aged 25, writing in October 2000 '... In the mammogram clinic I felt a bit out of place in my purple Doc Martens, jeans, T-shirt, Walkman blaring, reading Cleo, among the older ladies there looking up at me quizzically from their Women's Weeklys. They must have thought I was waiting for my mum! ...'   Alexandrea Cannon diagnosed at age 39 in January 2000, writing in February 2001 'Well, I am one year down the track with this cancer business and thought I would write about it. I was diagnosed with breast cancer last January at 39 years old ...'         Millie Laccos South Australia, diagnosed in Feb 1993, writing May 2001 '... Something struck on me! I saw this red patch on the skin of my breast. I started getting a little worried, but I didn't take it very serious, and I continued to finish my sun baking ...'       Tanya Wilson Diagnosed at age 35, writing in October 2004 '... Finally, I received a call from a genetic counsellor who wanted to see me. It had taken 3 ½ years to find out I had the BRCA1 gene fault mutation. The news hit me hard. The chances of developing cancer in my remaining breast and ovaries were not my only concern.'