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Check Your Puppies - NQ Easter Extravaganza

By Fiona Vecchio

Help me reach my goal of $5,000

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$5,000

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I'm now a Zero Hero

I'm hosting an event because I want a world where there are ZERO deaths from breast cancer. I believe every death from breast cancer is one too many. To achieve this, I’m raising funds for more research. All donations made to this page will help do exactly that. 

The National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) is Australia’s leading national body funding game-changing breast cancer research with money raised entirely by the Australian public.

I really believe research is the best way to prevent deaths, and improve how breast cancer is diagnosed, managed and treated. NBCF is working towards one goal: zero deaths from breast cancer. Together we can help them get there.

Click 'Donate' to make a secure online donation and help me reach my goal. Every donation, big or small, will help me get there. Please donate today.

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!

My Achievements

1. My Pink Hero Pledge

2. Uploaded Profile Picture

3. Shared My Page

4. Received First Donation

5. Halfway to Fundraising Goal

6. Reached Fundraising Goal

My Updates

Get those Puppies Checked!

Wednesday 29th Mar
When thinking about Breast Cancer diagnosis - we are taught to self check for lumps and bumps in our breasts and to ensure regular mammograms checks after we reach a certain age.    Let's keep on top of those checks but also be aware that not all breast cancer is diagnosed in the same way as my story goes a little differently....

In 2011 in was experiencing pain in my left breast but never really thought much of it as I had always been a "big breasted" girls and well they hurt sometimes.   I could not feel and lumps so I pushed the thought that something could be wrong to the back of my mind.   That was until my nipple started bleeding so I made an apt with my GP which was followed up with an ultrasound, specialist visit and referral to a surgeon.   What they discovered was a "intraductal papilloma" which the surgeon would remove with a lumpectomy procedure.

Now at this time everyone was certain it was not cancer and was extremely unlike that it would develop into cancer but after the procedure my surgeon told me that there was a "tiny bit of suspicious tissue" that they have removed during the procedure however it was so small that there was not enough for testing.   So I was sent home with a clean bill of health.

The pain in my breast continued throughout the year, which as a fibromyalgia sufferer I never knew if I should be worried or just put it down to the fibro symptoms.   After 10 months I decided to revisit my surgeon who sent me for my first mammogram and additional ultrasound.   I totally understand why mammograms are not an appealing option for women.   

Nothing at all showed up on the mammogram however the ultrasounds showed 3 "tiny" spots they wanted to investigate further so I was called in for a fine needle aspiration (FNA) procedure that would draw tissue for testing.   The placement of the "tiny" spots was behind the nipple which tends to be more sensitive to this sort of procedure.  Of course my fibro didn't help either as even with 3 times the normal local anesthetic dose they would give a patient for this procedure - I could feel everything and it was painful.    I still remember the doctor throwing his hands in the air declaring "in my 25 years in medicine I have never experienced this or not being able to do this'.  So it was decided that my surgeon would do another lumpectomy under general anesthetic.  

So in January 2013, I was admitted once again for another lumpectomy with my doctor hoping to find nothing more than the development of additional intraductal papillomas.

A week later, I was called into the Women's Imaging Clinic by my surgeon and I given the news that I had Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS).   The doctor had taken a lot more tissue than originally intended with the lumpectomy but that I would need a further procedure to ensure there were clear margins.

A week later I saw my surgeon again where informed me the biopsy results gave me a diagnosis of Stage 2 Cribiform Breast Cancer In Situ a rare form of breast cancer which he described to me as "like swiss cheese" where the holes were the spots of cancer throughout my entire breast.   He then went on to tell me that the next procedure would not be a simple lumpectomy but would be a Bi-lateral Mastecomy as considering my age (38) and the chance of the cancer forming on the right side was very high and almost certain.

So to summarise - if you feel something is amiss - get it checked regardless ..... not everything or everyone experiences are by the book.

We all Know Someone...

Tuesday 24th Jan
The Australian Dog World is a wide and varied community despite all our differences but when someone we know is affected by something negative in our lives, we all band together and support one another. 

Cancer is no exception to that rule and Breast Cancer is the most commonly diagnosed Cancer amongst women in Australia.

My diagnosis was first received in January 2013.   I was not the first in my family to be diagnosed but since that date other women in my family including my mother, cousin and aunt, have also been diagnosed with Breast Cancer.   None of us had the same breast cancer and we all experienced different journeys throughout our treatment process.

Many of the women we share our dog sport hobby with are also affected including volunteers with the Ingham Kennel & Obedience Club and the Cloncurry & District Canine Club Committees and it is for this reason that the decision was made to band together to support such a worthy cause.

Leading up to our Easter Extravaganza - we will be sharing various fundraising activities and each club will conduct a Fundraiser Show over the Easter weekend - so stay tuned for more details to come.

In the meantime - don't forget to Donate and Share our Cause with anyone and everyone to help us achieve the ultimate goal of Zero Deaths from Breast Cancer.

Thank you to my Supporters

$263.75

Fiona Vecchio

$52.75

Amanda Maynard

I’m very proud of you.

$36.93

Diane Anderson

From another cancer survivor ending up with a double mastectomy.

$31.65

Pieta James

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