Amanda Patterson

PLCC Cycle 4 Breast Cancer Challenge

November last year I went & did my regular mammogram with Breastscreen NSW, not thinking too much about it, or that I would receive a diagnosis that had anything but "all clear" in the results. 

Sadly however I was diagnosed with breast cancer - initially the doctors advised that my treatment plan would involve a mastectomy followed by 10 years of hormone therapy. Shattering news, but we accepted the diagnosis. 

However as with many things medical, not everything is as it seems at the beginning - following my surgery & testing of the lymph nodes that were removed, it was discovered that the cancer had travelled to 3 of my lymph nodes. This changed my treatment considerably - the doctors now prescribed 6 months of chemo followed up by 5 weeks of radiation, then 10 years of hormone therapy.

I have now completed the chemo phase & to say that it was difficult is an understatement - there are no words for what AC & Taxol chemo does to your body. They are basically poisoning you to the maximum point that your body can tolerate with the hope of killing off those nasty cancer cells at the same time. I wouldn't wish this treatment on anyone!

Currently I'm undergoing radiation & so far so good. It's making me a little bit tired but otherwise all good. A walk (or ride :) in the park compared to chemo!

I feel very blessed by the support of the medical team at The Mater Hospital, by all my friends & family but most of all my wonderful husband. Tony has been beside me on every step of this journey - sat through the many doctors appointments & spent more than his fair share of time in the hospital coffee shop waiting for me to finish treatment.

Tony is a man who likes to help people & felt that he needed to do his part in raising funds & awareness for breast cancer research. So in collaboration with our wonderful cycling club - Park Life Cycling - "Cycle 4 Breast Cancer" evolved. 

The idea behind "Cycle 4 Breast Cancer" was to get our club members riding in PINK jerseys to raise awareness for breast cancer (and part of the sale price was donated to NBCF). There will also be a challenge for our member & friends lasting all of October to raise funds for NBCF culminating on the 29th of October with a social ride & BBQ brunch at Sydney Olympic Park.

Personally I hope that medical treatments continue to improve for people diagnosed with breast cancer & that we are able to get to the target of zero deaths from breast cancer in the near future.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Breast Cancer is the most diagnosed cancer amount
women in Australia with 57 people diagnosed a day! In NSW 1 in 7 women
will develop breast cancer in their lifetime and this includes some of Parklife
Cycling Club’s-PLCC own members who have recently been diagnosed.

As October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, PLCC has
decided to arrange a Cycle 4 Breast Cancer Challenge the entire month
that will end with a special ride and event on Sunday 29^th
October!

You can register to join our team with every ride, either
outdoors or virtual counting to this challenge. Alternatively, you can join the
team and assist with raising awareness and funds to support the National
Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) with vital research into Breast Cancer.

The NBCF are Australia’s leading national body,
funding game-changing breast cancer research with all money raised entirely by
the Australian public. The NBCF have been established for 25 years and their
Vision is ‘Zero deaths from Breast Cancer’!

Not that we are a competitive bunch, but we all like a
challenge and there will be prizes consisting of:

* Highest fund raiser,

* Rides the most kms,

* Longest ride in one day,

* Best dressed ‘pink’ bike on the Sunday Social
Ride!

All winners will be announced at our Event on Sunday 29 October 

All donations over $2 are tax deductible and you will be issued with a tax-deductible receipt via email as soon as you make your donation.

Thank you so much for your support!