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Joanna Mason

West Footscray, 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.                                        Joanna Mason and her niece Eve On the 4th of August 2006 I was 27 years, 8 months and 18 days old.  My niece, Eva was yet to be born but my sister had been in labour for 20 hours when my surgeon said to me ‘It's a cancer'.  I had known it was a cancer, a gut feeling, for about 2 weeks.  I had been thinking about the possibility that it was a cancer since I found the lump in June.  But nothing could prepare me for those words.  Nothing could prepare my family, especially my mum to receive this news on the day she was to become a grandmother. Eva is now 13 months and 6 days old, and she has a new cousin Anika to bring us extra joy.  These past 13 months have been a roller coaster, but I have had the privilege of being distracted by my beautiful nieces who bring a smile to my face everyday, even if I'm feeling terrible.  I have the support of the most amazing family, extended family, friends and especially my partner Brad, who have all made things a bit easier and a lot more comfortable than I'm sure they could have been.  Brad and I have a lot to look forward to, especially the 14 children we have in the freezer!  However there is a cloud that hangs over us, and I think it may never go away.  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. Last Updated 7 December 2007