Renee’s mum Judith had breast cancer sixteen years ago, so Renee was always vigilant in doing her own breast checks. When Renee was 33, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in her left breast. In November last year, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in her right breast. Being married and raising three young boys and running a business with her husband, Renee quickly acted and sought treatment.
Renee was in the habit of checking her breasts, as her Mum Judith was diagnosed with breast cancer 16 years ago. Renee 33, was doing a routine breast check at home and found a lump in her left breast. Monitoring the lump she noticed it going up and down in line with her menstrual cycle and one month it not going back down. She went straight to her doctor and was quickly diagnosed with Breast Cancer.
“It was the 3rd of February 2019. The doctor told me I had HER2+ and ER positive breast cancer. It was going to require 12 weeks of chemotherapy treatment and then four weeks of fortnightly chemotherapy and then I had a double mastectomy and a bilateral reconstruction”.
Renee is married to Mark, and they have three young boys Kaden, Joshua and Dylan.
“We just sat the kids down and told them I had breast cancer. The first time Kaden was only three and he had no idea, but there was a book our McGrath Breast Care Nurse gave me to read to the kids, it really helped.”
In November 2023, Renee discovered another lump, but this time in her right breast.
She said “This time the oncologist told me it was HER2- and ER positive breast cancer. I had a lumpectomy on December 19th 2023, and then started chemotherapy on the 22nd of January 2024. To start with, it was fortnightly for four weeks and then 12 weeks of weekly chemotherapy. I will be travelling to Adelaide on July 1 to start my radiotherapy.”
Renee’s McGrath Breast Care Nurse Michelle Lydeamore is based in Port Lincoln, which is a three-hour drive from Renee in Streaky Bay. Renee said “Michelle is wonderful. Michelle has arranged accommodation for me at “Under Our Roof” in Adelaide, whilst I have my radiotherapy treatment. We chat via phone and text and she is just a great support.”
Renee wanted to be proactive and give back, so she decided to hold a fundraiser for the McGrath Foundation.
“I wanted to do something just to bring it to everyone’s attention and obviously having the McGrath Breast Care Nurse come and visit us, I wanted to do something. I wanted to make something good out of the situation I was in”.
Renee titled the fundraiser “Renee Elliott’s Morning Tea” and held it at the local cafe “Funk’d Coffee & Flowers” in Streaky Bay, South Australia.
“The girls who volunteered their time on a Sunday at the café did such a fabulous job. They sold 140 coffees in two hours; we sold pink cupcakes and my personal favourite carrot cake. We held a raffle, a small online auction, a money wall, where local shops, family and friends provided prizes, raising $9,000. I also received a grant from The Bay Community Op Shop for $2,000, so in total we were able to donate $11,000 to the McGrath Foundation.”
In reflection of having breast cancer, Renee said:
“Bringing it to people’s front of mind is so important. Knowing that it is something that is treatable and manageable and you just have to be onto it and most importantly, there is help available to you.
My saying has been the whole time “It’s not how I fought the fight, it’s what I was fighting for”. Four years ago, we did a calendar and I used this quote with a picture of my kids.
Inspired by Renee’s story? Show that Pink is the Colour of Care this October and register your fundraiser to help ensure no one misses out on the care of a McGrath Breast Care Nurse.
