Christine’s Story

“I got the call on my 57th birthday. They said, ‘We’d like to see you.’ My heart stopped. Unfortunately, I was told I had breast cancer.”

Sadly, Christine was one of thousands of people who have their world turned upside down due to a breast cancer diagnosis each year.

“We know the statistics are very high but no one ever thinks it’s going to be you,” says Christine.

“When it is, you walk out of that clinic with a different overlay to your life and it’s not going to be the same again.”

Christine was originally scheduled for a lumpectomy to remove the tumour, but on review she was
directed to have an ultrasound and then given the opportunity to participate in our Breast MRI Evaluation Study.

The Breast MRI Study aimed to find out the best way to use breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and whether it improves treatment options and patient outcomes in women recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

Christine believes that participating in the trial may have saved her life.

“I was so fortunate to get involved in the trial, which involved having a guided MRI – normally an expensive procedure. I was nervous, but I’m so glad I did it, because the results showed that I had another tumour which was triple negative.”

“It changed the course of my treatment completely.”

Instead of having a lumpectomy to remove the tumour, Christine underwent chemotherapy, a mastectomy to remove her breast, and radiotherapy.

She says that, had she not participated in the clinical trial, she would have just proceeded with a lumpectomy – missing an entire tumour only discovered through the course of the MRI.

Thankfully, Christine has come a long way since diagnosis. She’s back working full-time and celebrated the end of 2022 by going on a 10-day cruise of the South Pacific with her sister, who she describes as her ‘angel’ during treatment.

Heading into 2023, Christine is filled with gratitude and positivity.

“I’m keen to live my life to the fullest! I love the beach and this summer is going to be extra special – last year I had a PICC line in my arm for chemo and couldn’t swim!

I’m just so grateful to Breast Cancer Trials and the people who support them. I dread to think what the outcome might have been for me without them.”

Dimity shares why she supports Breast Cancer Trials.

You help researchers like Professor Sarah-Jane Dawson change the story for more Australian women and their families.