Journeys with Breast Cancer
These personal stories represent a wide range of different experiences and demonstrate the enormous and diverse impact of breast cancer in the community.
Click on any thumbnail (below) to view the video.
Top row (left to right):
To My Dearest Beloved One: Hadas Haileselassie presents her story as a letter to her daughter. She tells of her sadness at being unable to have further children after her breast cancer treatment but explains that they are part of a large community who love them as a family.
Reasons for optimism: Ben Foster was a teenager when his mum was diagnosed with breast cancer. His story tells how he coped with this experience as a teenage boy, a son and a brother.
One cancer family: Judith Maher's story focuses on her daughter Maryanne who was diagnosed with breast cancer aged 30. Judith was subsequently diagnosed with breast cancer, as was her sister. Judith tells of the support she received from her adult son during her recovery period.
Middle row (left to right):
Making a difference: Lyn Swinburne's story tells how her experience of breast cancer treatment set her on the path to make a difference. It shows how her drive and commitment led to the development of BCNA as an effective national voice for those affected by breast cancer.
Living, not dying: Veronica Macaulay-Cross tells of her experience of living with metastatic breast cancer. She talks of the value of her support group and of her advocacy work with BCNA.
Life, what a ride!: Judy Shepherdson tells of her long battle with breast cancer, first early breast cancer, then advanced disease. She looks at how it has influenced her life and tells of her commitment to living her life to the full.
Bottom row (left to right):
Wild at heart: Jo Ruff talks candidly of her experience as a young single woman dealing with breast cancer treatment. Jo's mother had previously been diagnosed with breast cancer. Jo's story also raises the issue of future fertility for young women facing breast cancer treatment.
Isolated but not alone: Cathy Murphy tells her story of being a mother of 4 in outback Queensland when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The treatment required her to leave her home, and her children.
Breast cancer reflections: Spiros Neofitou's wife Mary was diagnosed with breast cancer when they had 4 young daughters. Spiro tells of the impact of Mary’s diagnosis on him and their family.










