“It’s sad to know we’ve lost so many, but we have the survivors to inspire us to fight this disease,” said Aunty Dawn Dennison.
“It’s a hard one, breast cancer. It’s a long journey and we don’t seem to get a break but we can support each other,” she said.
On Friday morning the Toomelah, Boggabilla and Goondiwindi Aboriginal Women’s Group held a “Yarn up” to recognise Breast Cancer Awareness Week.
More than 120 women gathered to talk about what the disease has meant to them and what women need to do to keep themselves healthy.
They met in the grounds of the Toomelah Co-Op Ltd building and, for a gold coin donation, enjoyed morning tea and heard some very moving stories from survivors.
“Aunty Ada Jarrett used to host an Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea, so in a way this is also a tribute to her memory,” said Manager of the Toomelah Co-Op Ltd Rene Adams.
Women are often reluctant to talk about what having breast cancer really means to them and to their family.
There’s pressure from society to put on a brave face.
“It helps to talk about it, it’s part of the road to recovery,” said Ruby Nixon, who found out she had breast caner 15 years ago.
“I was out at Cunnamulla, overdoing it, working as a nurse at night and in an old people’s home in the day. I had a shower, felt the lump and
“I knew it was cancer,” she said.
“Trust your own gut feeling – if you know, don’t be afraid to tell your doctor. Cancer waits for no-one.”
Ruby’s met her doctor in Toowoomba and said, “I had a positive feeling. He had such a positive attitude and I never looked back from that day.”
When Ruby recovered, she sang and played at fundraising concert at Cunnamulla and raised $3000 for breast cancer charities.
“Friends and family, keep them around you. I had my nephews visiting me all the time.
“I got a big load of truck books to give them something to do while they sat with me in hospital – now they’re both truck drivers!”
For many who go into remission from breast cancer, there’s a kind of “survivor’s guilt”.
So many women have died. Why me? Why did I recover? Why did I get this disease in the first place?
Why am I alive when my friend, my mother, my sister did not recover and did not survive?
Aunty Dawn has not had cancer herself, but she has watched many of her friends and family struggle with the disease.
“People ask, ‘Why did God let that happen?’ That’s the first question to ask God when you get up there (to Heaven).”
Aunty Ursula McGrady said faith in God and support from her family and friends are what got her through.
“They prayed for me at Woodenbong after I found out. I said, ‘Don’t worry about me – God said he’d heal me.’ And He did, along with Dr Debbie (Waldron),” she said.
Don’t ignore doctor’s appointments, too, said Carmel Fox.
“I did all the right things. I checked my breasts, I found a lump. The doctor said, ‘It’s probably nothing, but we’ll do a mammogram just in case.’ Then it was, ‘It’s probably nothing, but we’ll do a biopsy just in case.” Then it was cancer.
“I had a lumpectomy, chemo, then radiation.
“I was so worried for my kids and my mum,” she said.
“Losing my hair made me cry more than anything, and going into early menopause. You’ve just got to keep going on,” she said.
No shame
“There is no ‘shame’ (embarrassment) in breast cancer. Keep your appointments, tell your friends and family. Do what the doctors tell you. It all makes the difference between life and death.”
Friday’s Yarn Up was the second gathering of the Women’s Group.
The next will be held in Boggabilla before Christmas.
“This time it was breast cancer, next time, it’ll be something else. It’s just a great opportunity to get together and have a good talk,” said Rene Adams, who thanked all her team and CARE Goondiwindi for their support.
“And it’s not just for Aboriginal women, either,” she said.
“It’s about identifying and addressing issues in our communities. It’s non-threatening.
“Everyone has a story to tell and this is our way to support you,” Rene said.
“That was a beautiful day. We have the hard times, but we have the good times as well,” said Kathy Mullins.
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