YOU’RE INVITED

Tell me about your book ‘My Time: Breast Cancer and Beyond’?

The book is going really well. I did it because I had the platform to continue to raise awareness. I chose two charities to support which is the Mcgrath Foundation and the Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA). One hundred per cent of all sales goes to them. My vision is to raise $20,000 for each of the charities, with the first run of book sales.

Why those charities?

The breast care nurse is the most important person who comes into your life when you first have your diagnosis. We’re very lucky to have two who are funded by the Mcgrath Foundation here in Dubbo. I couldn’t imagine the journey without having someone like that with you and to hold your hand and help you through it.

As soon as you’re diagnosed you receive the BCNA ‘My Journey Kit’ which has valuable resources in it; information. BCNA also does all the advocacy work for breast cancer patients. Currently that’s why I’m trying to get this new drug on the PBS for women with a secondary breast cancer or metastasised breast cancer.

Also, when I’m out on the road, they are two national pink charities everyone in Australia knows. Whether I’m up far north or down south or over west, people identify with those two charities as national charities.

Can you explain the advocacy work BCNA does?

The advocacy work they do is so vital. Being able to turn over things like accessing your superannuation when you’ve been diagnosed.

The latest campaign I’m getting signatures for is getting important new breast cancer drugs subsidised by the government on the PBS. The new class of drugs are called CDK inhibitors. They are used to treat people living with a particular type of metastatic (advanced) breast cancer, and have been shown in clinical trials to extend the length of time before the cancer spreads by up to 26 months.

These drugs are subsidised in the USA, the UK, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Israel, Lebanon, the Gulf States and Argentina, but not Australia.

The cost to purchase them is around $5000 per month, so if they’re paying that every month for 26 months, that’s well out of reach for most Australian families. That’s $140,000.

BCNA has an online network for women in remote areas so you can get on and be part of a group, and you’re connecting with people from all over Australia that can understand what you’re going through and you can share stories and give hope.

They do all the resources, such as brochures on how to help friends or colleagues, too.

Why is a breast care nurse so important?

A breast care nurse is not your family. They understand. They’re someone that can listen. You can be honest with your fears. You don’t want to put that on your family. It’s someone who’s very independent and has that knowledge and can reassure you. They’re very important. They are the vital link to the patients.

On a local level they are the link to Pink Angels. They’re also the ones that say, ‘Okay, we need to get you registered on BCNA for the My Journey Kit.’

The breast care nurses are the link to all those services.

Is two breast cancer nurses enough for Dubbo?

They cover a huge area out past Bourke, Cobar... and they do a fantastic job. I’ve spent a lot of time with them and I try to help them on a lot of different levels. They’re so passionate and committed, I’m sure another one would help but within the Mcgrath strategy there are so many other regions that still don’t have access to a breast care nurse. Their mission is to get everyone who is going through breast cancer to have access to a breast care nurse.

Jane Mcgrath’s mission was that, because the first time she had breast cancer she didn’t have a nurse. The second time she did and that’s why she started the Mcgrath Foundation – to fund breast care nurses because she discovered it was so vital to have that person.

What story does “It’s My Time” talk about?

It’s my journey through breast cancer. About how I was diagnosed, about a conversation through friends which is what saved my life. Also, being bitten by the black dog and being open and honest about that, because I do feel that’s a big issue currently as well.

Things like the Wig Library, how I set it up in Dubbo. My fourth baby which was starting Pink Angels, and now my new baby which is the Groovy Booby Bus and the adventures I’ve had in that.

Over the next couple of months I plan to get out regionally to where the Breastscreen NSW bus is going to be. I am an ambassador for Breastscreen NSW, encouraging women, telling my story, selling the book, that sort of thing.

Hopefully the book is a little light-hearted and it’s obviously written by Jen Cowley who gets my quirky sense of humour, but there’s also a lot of information in there.

Raelene Boyle has written the foreword?

I was really honoured she wrote the foreword for the book. She’s a breast cancer survivor too.

What opportunities are you looking for to help book sales and get that message out there?

I’m happy to guest speak. If there’s any clubs around or some girls who want to hold a pink day, if I’m available I’m happy to travel in the Groovy Booby Bus and go and speak.

Where can we get a copy of the book?

The book is available here in the Dubbo Photo News office, Little Darling Street Café (they’ve been fantastic), the Dubbo Visitors Information Centre, Regional Australia Bank, Red Earth Healing and The Book Connection.

I always have a copy with me so if anyone sees me in the street, I’m happy to sign it. I’ve currently sold it in the supermarket, to my doctors, you name it... I always have a book. If you see me standing in the middle of a car park somewhere signing it, that’s usually what I’m doing.

z My Time was published with community support, including from the combined Rotary Clubs of Dubbo and the Dubbo RSL.