Due to cancer in the family, Sue took the BRCA 1 test in 2018 which came back positive. With this knowledge, Sue decided to act on the increased possibility of getting breast or ovarian cancer. Sue thought that she could keep an eye on getting breast cancer by having mammograms and ultrasounds. But there is no detection test for ovarian cancer, so Sue had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed in Sydney. Pathology did not detect anything, so Sue thought all was good.
Then in 2022 Sue developed a cough, and then one day Sue suddenly looked like she was 7 months pregnant. A chest x-ray revealed fluid on the lung – a CT scan revealed cancer. Two litres of fluid was drained from her abdomen. From this fluid they tested for the primary cancer, which was ovarian cancer. Her cancer had started prior to Sue getting her ovaries removed. Due to missed communication, her ovaries were not tested fully enough (given her BRCA results), post-surgery. Sue should have received her cancer diagnosis in 2018, instead of in 2022.
Sue had trouble getting into the nearest cancer care centre, for treatment, which was in Dubbo (166km away), but she could get into Royal Hospital for Women in Sydney (575km away) fairly quickly. Her treatment plan was to have 3 rounds of chemo then surgery, then another 3 rounds of chemo, but it was made clear to Sue that she would not be cured – the cancer was Stage 4, too advanced. Those 4 years of being mis-diagnosed had an impact.
Sue relapsed this year – cancer was found in a lymph node between her gallbladder and liver, hence her second cancer surgery, and more chemo.
Over 2.5 years, Sue has had 8 rounds of chemo, 17 rounds of targeted therapy (every 3 weeks), 2 operations and a Port-a-Cath fitted into her chest – at least 30 trips to Sydney, at least 34,500kms traveling to and from home in Nyngan. Can Assist have assisted Sue with many fuel cards, to assist with the large distances that Sue has had to travel for treatment. “The checking in by the Can Assist lady was beautiful… not only how I am going, but checking in with my family to see how they are going”
“Can Assist have been like a big, warm community hug.” says Stu (Sue’s husband).
If having to travel for cancer treatment was not enough, in 2022 Nyngan was flooded when Sue was going through chemo. To get to the car on high ground, it was either by boat, or at one stage a neighbour’s helicopter.
Her four children have had the BRCA test, and three of them tested positive. They appreciate that now that they can make informed decisions about their futures. A test for ovarian cancer would certainly assist – it would be a gamechanger for a cancer that is usually diagnosed at the later stages.
