By ALESHA CAPONE
SEVERAL women gathered in Keilor Park last week to raise funds for cancer research – and celebrate the life of a beloved mother and grandmother.
Keilor resident Violeta lost her mother, Koprina Risteski, to ovarian cancer in December last year.
Her friend Kelli, who owns a Keilor Park business called Dare 2 b Dazzled, hosted an ‘Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea’ last Tuesday to raise funds for the Cancer Council Australia.
Kelli used her skills at organising girls’ glamour parties to pull together the event which included a picture of grandmother-of-five Koprina, surrounded by flowers.
Violeta, the eldest of three children, described her mother as “beautiful and perfect”.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better mum. She was amazing and selfless to the end,” Violeta said.
Violeta also lost her grandmother to ovarian cancer and her aunty Verka is presently in remission from the disease.
With a strong family history of cancer, Violeta recently chose to be tested for the BRCA1 gene.
Women who carry the gene – and who have a family history of ovarian or breast cancer – have a dramatically higher likelihood of developing either illness, than the general population.
With medical advice, women with BRCA1 can choose to have mastectomies, a process of having their ovaries taken out, as a preventative measure against developing cancer.
“I’m the type of person who is a bit of an ‘avoider’ but I think knowing or not whether you carry the gene does give you power and gives you a chance to make a decision about your own body,” Violeta said.
“I did get tested, and I do carry the gene. I’ve just had my ovaries taken out.”
Violeta said she was “doing fine” apart from “a few hot flushes” from post-surgery menopause, a condition experienced by women who have their ovaries removed.
As a mothe of two, Violeta said she admired Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie’s much-publicised decision to have a double mastectomy, after losing her mother and grandmother to cancer.
“I guess one thing with Angelina Jolie, she has had a little bit of negative publicity, but she has a platform to put it out there and make other women feel it is okay,” Violeta said.
See www.cancercouncil.com.au for more information.
