Annie McDonald

Support my challenge to swim for breast cancer!

This November, I am taking part in Swim For Breast Cancer! 💕

I am doing this to raise funds for National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) to support vital breast cancer research to help save lives. I will be attempting to swim 9km in November, fresh after my Everest trek so it will be quite the challenge!

My mum was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016. She underwent a radiation, a mastectomy and a preventative oophorectomy. It was shocking and difficult however she remained strong and eventually settled into her new normal. In 2022, we made the decision to begin a new life in QLD. Within months of moving and after feeling unwell for some time, mum’s fears about her health were realised and her cancer had recurred. This time it was classed as metastatic triple negative. She underwent several rounds of chemotherapy, whilst I was completing my masters degree which came with its own challenges. Chemo was extremely difficult, physically and emotionally. However her doctors were happy with the treatment and it was deemed effective. Over the last three years mum has travelled the world, from Greece to Germany. A few months ago, routine scans and tests showed some suspicious growths were another recurrence and was found in some new areas. Devastatingly, this meant mum had to cancel her planned Camino trek and is currently undertaking more chemotherapy. Positively, her doctors are confident the chemo will be effective and she is eligible for immunotherapy this time. Hopefully third times the charm. This whole experience has been so hard on everyone in my family, especially mum. She has had to come to terms with living with the disease, as well as crippling health anxiety. 

Metastatic triple negative breast cancer is complex and aggressive. It lacks common receptor hormones used to target cancer cells, making it harder to treat and has a worse prognosis. 

However there is hope. Triple negative breast cancer is one of the most researched cancers, with constant medical innovations and breakthroughs.

9 people in Australia die everyday from breast cancer. It should be zero.

Organisations such as NBCF fund groundbreaking research in the hopes of ending breast cancer for everyone. 

If you can, please consider donating to help NBCF’s mission of zero deaths from breast cancer.

Love Annie xx