For women like Maria Waters, a diagnosis of secondary breast cancer would
have once been a death sentence but 20 years on she is living proof that the
disease has become far less deadly.
Now in her 50s, the Perth mother of two was treated for breast cancer in
1989 and three years later doctors found it had spread to her lymph glands
and liver. She was given a slim chance of surviving.
But she said medical advances and better detection meant many women with
breast cancer that had spread to other organs were now living on happily for
decades.
Mrs Waters addressed a forum in Fremantle yesterday where the Breast Cancer
Network of Australia launched its Hope and Hurdles information pack for
women with secondary breast cancer. The pack was developed after wide
consultation with women living with the disease whose main message was that
hope was vital to them.
Mrs Waters said it was important that women did not feel isolated in their
battle with the disease.
“With support from family and friends and inspiration from other women with
advanced breast cancer, I know I am not alone and draw the strength to fight
on,” she said.
Source : www.bcna.org.au.
