By Matthew Sims
Berwick resident Sandra Forsyth has come out the other end of her journey with breast cancer with a calmer outlook on life and a new perspective on mortality.
Diagnosed last November with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCSI), which is the presence of abnormal cells inside a milk duct in the breast after she felt a lump, the 64-year-old said she was lucky to discover it early.
“This news definitely turned my world upside down,” she said.
“I never thought I would be a person that had breast surgery.
“I had to go in and do three weeks of radiation.”
Mrs Forsyth said the process from discovering the cancer to treatment was relatively quick, having to go into X-rays and have titanium markers inserted into her breast before receiving radiation treatment.
“I went through six months of various treatments,” she said.
Each radiation treatment lasted 20 minutes and involved her having to inhale deeply and hold her breath for 30 seconds to keep her heart raised above the radiation zone.
Mrs Forsyth said her surgeons and treatment team were supportive during her journey.
“They were just so compassionate and understanding,” she said.
“The surgeons were beautiful.”
Mrs Forsyth underwent two surgeries to remove the growth, which was about 15 centimetres long.
“I was lucky to be told by my GP and specialist that they had gotten all the cancer out and that I was clear,” she said.
While Mrs Forsyth has been prescribed to take medication to inhibit her production of estrogen for five years, she said they lead to being fatigued easily.
She said the gravity of her diagnosis did not hit her until the passing of her father, which occurred during her treatment journey.
A former fire brigade officer, her father died at the age of 95 after complications from a urinary tract infection.
“I felt nothing until my father died,” she said.
“I miss him terribly.
“I broke down one night and said why me?
“It made me think of my own death.”
Mrs Forsyth has planned to shaving her hair at a special event at her Berwick home on Sunday 23 July to raise funds for the Cancer Council.
With a goal of $2000, her fundraiser has already raised more than $850, with a recent anonymous donation of $500 being a surprising boost for the event.
“It’s the least I can do for those who have had worse experiences than me or worse, lost their lives because of cancer,” she said.
Mrs Forsyth said she hoped her story would inspire both women and men to self-examine and see their GP to check up regularly.
“I want to scare them too,” she said.
“Go and do self-examinations.
“The alternative is death.”
Mrs Forsyth said she was proud she was able to discover the cancer early.
“I am very proud I was able to help women in the community,” she said.
Mrs Forsyth said while she was scared of the cancer returning or receiving a similar diagnosis, she had discovered a new appreciation of life.
“If I keep dwelling on this, I’m not going to enjoy my life,” she said.
“I’m a calmer person.”
Mrs Forsyth said she was grateful for the support of her husband and family during her journey and into her recovery.
For more information about her fundraising effort, visit fundraising.cancervic.org.au/fundraisers/sandraforsyth
