For anyone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer: this is your digital care package.

It takes a village. It takes a tribe of strong, fierce, and incredibly loyal people to support a loved one through breast cancer.

Despite this truth, we have heard thousands of stories from women who know that cancer is a shocking reality. That it can be paralysing, lonely, overwhelming, that there is too much information and yet, somehow, never enough.

To help you through this uncertain time, we have created this digital care package. A place for you to read, listen, and watch the stories of other women who are living and surviving, like you.

Share their fears, their joys, the people who help them thrive, and the little things they do to make life bearable when all seems lost.

Articles

“At 27, with an 18-month-old son, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.”

“I remember exactly how she looked at me. She pretty much said to me, ‘So your results have come back and it looks like you have breast cancer’, and I didn’t hear anything else after that, it was just hazy.

“I just knew I had to get home and speak to my husband.”

“At 27, with an 18-month-old son, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.”

Berlei releases a Post-Surgery Bra for breast cancer survivors.

This wire-free bra features cotton stretch inner pockets to accommodate prosthesis, seam-free cups to minimise rubbing and soft, fully adjustable shoulder straps for the ultimate in comfort and support.

Berlei releases a Post-Surgery Bra for breast cancer survivors.

“Here I am, at 20 years old not only with breast cancer, but now with no hair.”

“‘Don’t worry, it will grow back,’ she replied as I wailed out that I was going to lose all of my hair. I was so focused on my appearance and that everyone was going to look at me and know I was ‘sick’, at this point I hadn’t met anyone my age going through or had been through what I was about to endure. I guess I had no idea what was coming for me.”

“Here I am, at 20 years old not only with breast cancer, but now with no hair.”

Seven celebrities on their experience with breast cancer.

“Someone had said to me at the time, ‘You need to be a little bit selfish’. It’s not in my nature to be selfish but now is the time to do that let people take care of you. And…that’s what I did,” Kylie Minogue said.

Seven celebrities on their experience with breast cancer.

“One of the hardest things about getting breast cancer was it interrupted my dream of having more children.”

“For the first few years post-diagnosis, I found it incredibly difficult to watch people around me having second, third or fourth kids. Having grown up very close to my two sisters, I was so worried Leni would suffer as an only child. My fears have been allayed now as all I see is a confident, happy, hilarious child with loads of friends.

“However, my desire is still for more children. And now Leni is nearly 6, he’s asked kindly if he could please have a brother or sister. He assures me I won’t need to get up at night, as he’s happy to do the feeding….”

“One of the hardest things about getting breast cancer was it interrupted my dream of having more children.”

Perfect Scars: This is what a breast cancer survivor looks like.

We found 20 women and one man (Yep, Breast Cancer happens to the boys as well) who courageously shared their stories and scars. All of the women and men involved have made peace with their scars and many refer to them as ‘perfect’.

Perfect Scars: This is what a breast cancer survivor looks like.

  Podcasts

I Don’t Know How She Does It: Tina Harris

Tina Harris talks about how she survived breast cancer and managed family time.

The McGrath Foundation

Jane McGrath’s best friend Tracy Bevan explains how the McGrath Foundation began and the work it does.

The remarkable women behind Connie Johnson

During Connie Johnson’s very public battle with cancer, her brother Sam was by her side spreading the word about the Love Your Sister campaign. But there were many more people behind the scenes supporting Connie and building the incredible charity that is Love Your Sister.

Videos

‘I have breast cancer. This is why I want my sister to have a mastectomy.’

Sally Obermeder on the moment she had to shave her head.

If this post brings up issues for you, or you just need someone to talk to, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. You can also visit the Lifeline website here and the Beyond Blue website here.

You can call the Cancer Council on 13 11 20 or the Breast Cancer Network Australia on 1800 500 528.