Martine was 29 and starting her dream life when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Martine Dines had a plan. 

She wanted to move to Australia, marry the love of her life and live where the sun always seemed to be shining. 

"Australia was warm so in 2014, when I graduated [from university], I booked a one-way ticket to Australia with a suitcase," she tells Mamamia. "And to be honest with you, I knew that I wasn't going to return to Ireland. I knew that I was destined to have a life somewhere else."

The plan seemed fool-proof.

But upon starting her new life, Martine learnt she had breast cancer.

She was just 29. 

"I honestly was not prepared for the news, because I thought, 'I'm only 29. I am healthy. I know I look after my body. I do everything right by my body,' and when I heard the news, 'I'm sorry, it's cancer,' my world literally fell apart," she explains. 

Martine Dines found out she had cancer at 29 years old. Image: Supplied.

What added to the heartache was finding out her diagnosis while on a trip to Hamilton Island to celebrate what should have been her wedding day. 

"I was at the stage of my life where my partner and I were actually meant to be in Ireland to get married that week. Only we couldn't, we had to cancel because of COVID. It meant that we went to Hamilton Island and I found lumps [in her right breast], which quickly progressed and I was being diagnosed," she recalls. "It was so, so far away from what I expected from my life.

"And you think of all the bad things immediately: 'Am I gonna die? I'm gonna be a burden. Am I gonna lose my her? What does the rest of my life look like?' Nothing really prepares you for that."

Within three weeks of diagnosis, Martine underwent a double mastectomy, five months of chemo, and six weeks of radiotherapy.  

She was also told she needed to be tested for the BRCA2 gene, which is an inherited mutation that can increase the risk of several types of cancer, including pancreatic cancer and melanoma. 

"My grandmother had breast cancer when she was 43 years old," she tells Mamamia. "My mum was only 16. I never met her, but that's the only breast cancer within the family. So when I found out that I had [the gene], I was completely shocked."

Since her diagnosis, Martine's mother and younger sister have discovered they have the gene.

"For me, it was key to find that information because what you can then do is use that information to your advantage," she explains. "My mum and my sister are both going for double mastectomy and reconstruction. So they're going to have their breasts removed, which reduces the risk massively."

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Martine has been in Australia for nine years and in that time, has gained citizenship. As such, she was able to have access to Medicare. 

"It was absolutely incredible," she says. "It paid for my surgery and treatment. The only thing I was out of pocket for was prescription drugs and there were a lot of prescription drugs."

Medicare also covered Martine's IVF surgery to have her eggs harvested and removed, as she was told chemo could impact her fertility. 

"There is a cost out of pocket, yes," she says. "But in the grand scheme of things, I was getting chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery [paid for] by Medicare. But I would have paid anything just to make sure I was getting the best care." 

Following her diagnosis, Martine says she will never be her old self again. But perhaps that's a good thing. 

"I think I needed a bit of a wake-up call in terms of my lifestyle," she explains. "I was climbing the corporate ladder. I was working crazy hours [every day] and I didn't prioritise my health."

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Since her diagnosis, Martine shares her outlook on her life has changed drastically. 

"Of course, I still have down days where I can't be bothered with the world and I want to shut everything out and I wish it didn't happen," she says. "I will wish it didn't happen to me and my fiance. But I honestly feel like I've got a better balance of life and the wake-up call that I needed because I honestly do really enjoy my life at the moment." 

There are restrictions, Martine says, but her life has changed in ways she never saw possible. 

"I'm on hormone therapy and I go back for scans and checks which makes me quite anxious," she tells Mamamia. "But my outlook on life is much better. I'm better than I was."

Breast cancer to happen to anyone, which is why Martine has dedicated a lot of time to raising awareness for research and education. 

"Breast cancer is one of the highest cancers for women in Australia," she says, adding that one in seven women will be diagnosed in their lifetime. "So the research from even 20-30 years ago has been incredible and had a massive impact on people. But with National Breast Cancer Foundation's mission, we are striving for zero deaths from breast cancer.

"The research and development of drugs and treatment have meant that I am now cancer free, and hopefully that I can continue to live my life as normal life as possible," she continues. "Even the fact that I was able to go through IVF in the hope that maybe I can carry a baby one day. It is key for any breast cancer survivor. So the more we spend on raising awareness and funding research, the better [equipped] we can be at helping women (and men) detect early on."

With over 10,000 followers on Instagram, Martine is striving to help raise women's awareness on breast cancer. She tells Mamamia her work on social media has helped women learn how to check their breasts and learn about their own diagnosis. 

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"When I got diagnosed, I actually found it was an easy way to connect with people, to research, to see and hear people's stories," she says. "You can connect with people quite easily and spread awareness. I am able to reach as many people as I can."

For those who have also had a breast cancer diagnosis, Martine encourages them to "take it day by day."

"Don't focus too much on the future because it's just too much to get your head around," she says. "I often give myself little tasks like walking down the street, getting in the shower, putting on some fresh pyjamas and maybe taking my dog round the block.

"Just focus on small tasks that keep you feeling like you've accomplished something." 

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In December 2022, Martine quit her corporate job and now she's taking time to heal, rest and prepare for her next big adventure: climbing Mount Everest for charity at the Royal Hospital for Women in Randwick. 

"I'm doing it for the NICU Centre, so the newborn ICU," she explains. 

Right now, she's undergoing serious training for her big trip in September. It will be a 17-day trek in total. 

"I'm walking steps, steps and more steps. I'm walking everywhere," she says. "I've always been at the gym and been active so I'm hoping that'll stand by me."

Her advice for those whose loved ones have been diagnosed with cancer is to listen and help where possible. 

"We often want to fix things, but I think just let them be upset and cry and get all their emotions out," she says. "Just be there for them. Whether that's bringing them to the hospital or collecting them. And when they say they don't need help, they're lying. 

"[They] need to spend all their time and energy focusing on healing and getting better. So if someone wants to come around and vacuum your apartment and change your bedsheets, just let them do it."

To continue vital research, National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) is announcing $12 million of investment into 16 game-changing grant projects. Martine has joined forces with NBCF to highlight the importance of continued investment into breast cancer research and the importance of early detection.    

Martine Dines is a breast cancer survivor. You can find her on Instagram @martinedines.

Feature Image: Supplied.

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