Kate Black has breast cancer
Donation protected
Kate Black has breast cancer
Kate is a former Queensland Police Sgt, who worked diligently and proactively to serve young people in Queensland. As a Detective in Child Protection for many years, Kate was a standout performer. Anyone who has worked with Kate knows her dedication, her enthusiasm, her gift of giving, and her infectious laugh. She can brighten any room the minute she walks in. Kate left QPS a few years ago to work as an investigator for Education NSW and to be closer to her family. In her new role, Kate again has served the people of NSW in the work she does, investigating complaints surrounding the abuse of children. As a single mum of 3 year old son Max, Kate has found her happy place. There are a multitude of photos of Kate and her adorable Max on facebook all depicting a very happy little family living a very normal and busy life.
However things changed very recently when Kate noticed a lump in her left breast in early December 2018. She went to her GP who said it was unlikely to be cancer. Thankfully this doctor said “I don’t muck around with boobs” and Kate was very quickly referred for a mammogram and ultrasound. Those scans showed that her GP was right, the lump Kate had felt wasn’t cancer, but another lump was found, but one which Kate could not feel. Later a biopsy showed it was cancer!!
At that time the scans indicated the cancer was 1.1cm and at that size, Kate was told it wouldn’t have spread to the lymph nodes, and that after surgery she would only require radiation.
But unfortunately that wasn’t to be the case as the cancer, once removed, was 3cm and the two biopsied lymph nodes showed .5 cm cancers in each of them. This changed treatment drastically and Kate’s prognosis fell from 98% to 70% survival.
Just last week Kate had a full lymph node removal, a far more significant operation and recovery. She has had to obtain private treatment so far, as her GP couldn’t get her in to see a public surgeon until mid January (even with a diagnosis early in December). Had Kate not had private health and some savings she may still have been waiting to see a surgeon. Where would that have left her?
Anyway two surgeries later Kate is now recovering from the second surgery so that she is able to commence a 6 month treatment of chemotherapy. All things going to plan Kate will hopefully starting treatment early/mid February. Once that is completed Kate needs 6 weeks of daily radiation followed by 5 years of hormonal treatment. This will bring on menopause and all those other fun symptoms!!
Kate is now forced to take leave for most of 2019. She does have income insurance, and will be paid 75% of her income, but as a part time worker (75% of 0.6), the reality is that she is going to really struggle financially. The medication she needs as well as caring for Max and normal bills are more than she can manage. Her savings have been used to pay the excess of private health. Nothing comes cheaply these days.
Max turns 3 this March and as a single mum Kate would be very grateful for any help, that people can provide. We need to raise funds to take the pressure and worry away from Kate so that she can focus on her recovery, mothering, her treatments and getting well!!
Please donate any amount you can to help Kate.
Kate is a former Queensland Police Sgt, who worked diligently and proactively to serve young people in Queensland. As a Detective in Child Protection for many years, Kate was a standout performer. Anyone who has worked with Kate knows her dedication, her enthusiasm, her gift of giving, and her infectious laugh. She can brighten any room the minute she walks in. Kate left QPS a few years ago to work as an investigator for Education NSW and to be closer to her family. In her new role, Kate again has served the people of NSW in the work she does, investigating complaints surrounding the abuse of children. As a single mum of 3 year old son Max, Kate has found her happy place. There are a multitude of photos of Kate and her adorable Max on facebook all depicting a very happy little family living a very normal and busy life.
However things changed very recently when Kate noticed a lump in her left breast in early December 2018. She went to her GP who said it was unlikely to be cancer. Thankfully this doctor said “I don’t muck around with boobs” and Kate was very quickly referred for a mammogram and ultrasound. Those scans showed that her GP was right, the lump Kate had felt wasn’t cancer, but another lump was found, but one which Kate could not feel. Later a biopsy showed it was cancer!!
At that time the scans indicated the cancer was 1.1cm and at that size, Kate was told it wouldn’t have spread to the lymph nodes, and that after surgery she would only require radiation.
But unfortunately that wasn’t to be the case as the cancer, once removed, was 3cm and the two biopsied lymph nodes showed .5 cm cancers in each of them. This changed treatment drastically and Kate’s prognosis fell from 98% to 70% survival.
Just last week Kate had a full lymph node removal, a far more significant operation and recovery. She has had to obtain private treatment so far, as her GP couldn’t get her in to see a public surgeon until mid January (even with a diagnosis early in December). Had Kate not had private health and some savings she may still have been waiting to see a surgeon. Where would that have left her?
Anyway two surgeries later Kate is now recovering from the second surgery so that she is able to commence a 6 month treatment of chemotherapy. All things going to plan Kate will hopefully starting treatment early/mid February. Once that is completed Kate needs 6 weeks of daily radiation followed by 5 years of hormonal treatment. This will bring on menopause and all those other fun symptoms!!
Kate is now forced to take leave for most of 2019. She does have income insurance, and will be paid 75% of her income, but as a part time worker (75% of 0.6), the reality is that she is going to really struggle financially. The medication she needs as well as caring for Max and normal bills are more than she can manage. Her savings have been used to pay the excess of private health. Nothing comes cheaply these days.
Max turns 3 this March and as a single mum Kate would be very grateful for any help, that people can provide. We need to raise funds to take the pressure and worry away from Kate so that she can focus on her recovery, mothering, her treatments and getting well!!
Please donate any amount you can to help Kate.
Fundraising team: Tonya Carew (4)
Tonya Carew
Organizer
The Bluff QLD
Kathleen Black
Beneficiary
Neil Lynch
Team member
Nae Hanna
Team member
Shell Stevens
Team member
