Wilma's Cancer Recovery

In July 2016, I went for my two yearly mammogram check up as I have been doing religiously for the last 10+ years. I was given the all clear and received my letter to confirm that I did not need to have another check up for two years. In August 2016, I discovered a lump in my left breast and was urged by a friend to go back and have it checked out although the mammogram was clear. I was, at this stage, diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer, having an 8.5 cm tumor. I was devastated, to say the least, and had the tumor been caught earlier at stage 1, my cancer treatment may not have been as aggressive as it needed to be to save my life. After my diagnosis, I was immediately put onto an aggressive course of AC chemotherapy for three months and Taxol chemotherapy for three months.

Despite doctors’ best efforts, my tumor grew during my chemotherapy treatment to 14cm; almost double the size of what it was at diagnosis. In March 2017, I was scheduled to have a mastectomy of the left breast, but was initially too ill to have the procedure and had to be admitted to hospital until I could have the surgery. When I eventually had my surgery and recovered from it, I then had to have radiation therapy every day for 5 weeks. I was also put onto Exaccord to stop my cancer spreading. 

Unfortunately, I had a severe reaction to the Exaccord, which went undiagnosed for a year. In this time, I was vocal with doctors about what I was going through, and tried many different types of treatment. You name it, I’ve tried it. This reaction to the Exaccord has left me unable to walk properly, in constant, severe pain, prone to falls, unable to work, or even complete simple tasks for myself. After putting up with this agony for so long, and being ignored and dismissed by doctors in the public system, I have finally found a doctor on the Gold Coast who specializes in cancer treatment. He is very hopefully that he can help me to recover to full health but this is just the start of a very long road to recovery. Because this is a private practice, there is a hefty bill for this treatment.

As I am now on a pension and unable to work, it is causing a great financial strain, but I need to try and raise the funds as this really is my last hope. I am hoping that anyone who is able and willing to help me could contribute to help me get my life back. Every bit of funding, small or large, is gratefully appreciated. Thank you to family and close friends who have already helped me so much with living day to day, and to those of you taking your time to support me.