Maureen McDonald is one of thousands of Victorians diagnosed with cancer to pass the five-year survival mark. 75509 Picture: CHARLENE GATT
By Charlene Gatt
SOME dates are forever marked in our minds.
For Footscray resident Maureen McDonald, that date is 29 January 2006 – the day she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Ms McDonald had found a lump on her breast some time before her diagnosis, but being prone to cysts, thought nothing of it.
It wasn’t until she was feeling really unwell that she made an appointment at the doctors.
Two weeks later, she had a mastectomy and kicked off 18 months of chemotherapy at the Western and Sunshine Hospitals.
Six years on, Ms McDonald has a clean bill of health.
Like Ms McDonald, more Victorians than ever are winning their fight against cancer, with five-year cancer survival rates climbing to a record high.
Sixty-four per cent of cancer patients now pass the five-year survival mark, compared to 47 per cent in 1985.
Ms McDonald attributes her recovery to the fantastic patient care she received at the Footscray and Sunshine Hospitals.
“I’ve just been so well cared for,” she said.
“If one of my daughters was diagnosed, I’d want them to be treated here.
“When you get to the five years (in remission), it’s exciting but scary because everyone is pulling back and you’re not getting as many checks.
“When you have cancer, you know there’s always a possibility (of it coming back). I enjoy my life, and it has made me appreciate things more.”
Last month, Ms McDonald had a breast reconstruction, taking tissue and muscle from her stomach to rebuild her breast.
It was an operation years in the making, with Ms McDonald unsure if she wanted to put herself through major surgery again.
Now she is grateful for once again going under the knife.
“I feel so different – I’m wearing a nightie again – I feel feminine,” she said.
