1 in 8 women in Australia

will be diagnosed with breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer

in Australian women– With your help and

through early detection and ongoing support,

we can change the facts.

1034 Wellington Street,West Perth WA 6005PO Box 250, West Perth WA 6872Telephone (08) 9324 3703 info@breastcancer.org.auwww.breastcancer.org.au

Every day in Australia, more than

36 women discover they have

breast cancer

The incidence of breast cancer in Australia is

increasing and by 2020 it is estimated that there will be

17,210 new cases

9 out of 10 women who get

breast cancer do not have a family history of

the disease

BCCWA_Letter_Nov2012 V2(blank).indd 2 19/11/12 9:57 AM

March, 2013

Dear Friend,

Christmas can be chaos at the best of times, but imagine what it was like for Evana who was hit with the bombshell of breast cancer just weeks before Christmas.

It’s a shock for anyone at any time. There are so many questions. What does the diagnosis mean? Will I need surgery? Will I lose my breast or even both breasts? Will I have to have chemo or radiation therapy? Will I lose my hair? Who will look after my kids? How will my family cope? Will I survive?

Fortunately thanks to your support the breast care nurses at Breast Cancer Care WA are there to help with vital information, friendship, understanding and practical hands on support for women, men and their loved ones at the most difficult time of their lives.

Evana was diagnosed with a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer on 29th November, just weeks before Christmas 2012. On the 18th of December she had a bilateral mastectomy, but was glad to be home again on the 23rd in time to share Christmas with husband Craig and the children, Kaitlyn 21, Nikita 15, Liam 13 and little Joel aged 6 ½ years. Everyone had their own questions about Evana’s breast cancer but young Joel was most worried about whether Santa would know where to find her.

Meanwhile Evana’s Aunty Helen flew in from Noosa (even though she hated flying) to help out. Helen knew only too well what Evana was going through. Her own sister Dawn had passed away ten years earlier from breast cancer. If there was anything Helen could do to help Evana, her husband Craig and the kids, she would be in there boots and all.

If the stress of breast cancer wasn’t enough, Evana and her husband Craig were struggling financially. The lease on their rented house was up and they had to move. Christmas

was upon them, and the utility bills were piling up as well as the gaps in medical bills were causing a real strain. Then there were the

removalist’s costs and the bond for the new rental to be found.

When breast care nurse Denise saw how stressed they were she said, “Give me the bills and you

concentrate on getting better.” Evana was amazed. She thought breast care nurses were just there to advise on health issues.

“I was so grateful when Denise stepped in when she did, it was unbelievable,” Evana says. “We will never be able to repay them for the emotional and financial support given to me and my family during this time.”

Evana is incredibly grateful for all the support she’s received from Breast Cancer Care WA, family, friends and even people she’d never met before. For us, she’s an inspiration, always ready with a smile or joke. She sees her chemo treatment as her ‘white knights’ going into battle for her.

Evana was not allowed to lift anything for 6 weeks after the operation. Aunty Helen hung out the washing, did the house work and the

shopping. Evana said she wouldn’t have coped without her Aunty’s help with packing up their home, cleaning, moving and unpacking at the other end,

it was a huge job.

With Denise’s support Evana decided she wanted to take control of her progress as much as possible. Having been told she would start losing her hair around the 17th day after her first treatment. She said to herself, “Cancer may have taken my boobs but it isn’t taking my hair.” So she had her long hair cut short. Then before the 17th day Evana and her family shaved their heads. “Shaving my head in my own time really took the fear out of losing it,” she smiles defiantly.

Even though Evana has been through so much she still says every cloud has a silver lining. “We’ve always been a close family” she says, “but my cancer journey has brought us even closer.”

“Until you go through something like this you don’t realise how fabulous nurses like Denise can be, they are like a wave of calm that helps settle you and give you strength to carry on” she says.

At Breast Cancer Care WA we know how important it is for women like Evana to feel that they are not alone. Yes, she’s very fortunate to have a loving supportive family, but through Breast Cancer Click, Evana is also able to connect with other women who have experienced or are currently experiencing the same things she is going through now.

‘The Click’ is a free national breast cancer online support website for women and men affected by breast cancer developed as part of a joint Breast Cancer Care WA and Edith Cowan University research project. It’s a place where they come to connect with others, ask questions, take part in discussions, share their experiences in a safe environment and know they’re not alone.

In 2013, 14,900 mothers, wives, daughters, family members and friends in Australia will be diagnosed with breast cancer. While treatment and outcomes are now more successful than ever, the number of women being diagnosed is increasing.

Every diagnosis comes as a terrible shock. Everyone knows someone who has been affected but who do you turn to at such a turbulent time of crisis?

We are here to provide essential support to anyone facing breast cancer, when they need it most. Our breast care nurses can demystify all the frightening details of surgery and therapy. We offer information, emotional and financial support to the whole family. And we continue to be there for as long as we can be helpful and for as long as it takes.

Breast Cancer Care WA does not receive any government funding we rely entirely on the funds provided to us though kind donations from people like you.

With more and more people looking to us for support

Please make cheque / money order payable to: Breast Cancer Care WA

OR debit my credit card:

Card No.

Cardholder’s name

/ etad yripxE erutangiS

OR Please charge $ each month to my credit card until I advise otherwise

OR donate by phone - Call (08) 9324 3703

Donations of more than $2.00 are tax deductible.A receipt will be sent to you shortly. Thank you.

or my choice: $

Your name and address details may be used to keep you better informed of Breast Cancer Care WA activities and services. If you do not want to receive this information please call (08) 9324 3703.

1034 Wellington Street, West Perth WA 6005PO Box 250. West Perth WA 6872

Phone (08) 9324 3703info@breastcancer.org.auwww.breastcancer.org.au

This gift is from:

YES! I wish to help women and families a�ected by breast cancer in WA

You can also help us secure a better world for women a�ected by breast cancer by leaving a gift in your Will...

Please tell me how I can include a gift to Breast Cancer Care WA in my Will

I have already included a gift to Breast Cancer Care WA in my Will

Three easy ways to donate:Donation hotline on (08) 9324 3703

Post in enclosed envelope

Fax to (08) 9485 2593

each year our resources are stretched to the limit. Your donations will help us provide basic support so people like Evana can face their journey without any added unnecessary stresses.

• Your $500 donation could pay a week’s rent for a single mum facing breast cancer on her own and unable to work during treatment

• Your $250 donation could pay for a month’s fuel for a breast care nurse making home and hospital visits

• Your $100 donation could feed a family of four for a week

• Your $50 donation could help cover the cost of a taxi fare for someone undergoing treatment and unable to drive

Your kind donation will give hope and much needed support to people facing breast cancer this year.

Thank you for caring,

Donna RendellDonna Rendell Chief Executive Officer

P.S. Breast Cancer Care WA does not receive any government funding. Everything we’re able to do is through the generosity of people like you, please give generously.

To donate securely online, please click the ‘Donate Button’ above, phone us on the number below or complete this coupon and return it to us. Thankyou in advance for your support.

Please choose one of the 3 easy options below to complete your donation:

Phone the donation hotline on (08) 9324 3703Print and post to PO Box 250 West Perth WA 6872 Print and Fax to (08) 9485 2593

Name ____________________________________ Phone ____________________________________ Gift Amount

DONATE

Breast Cancer is the most common invasive cancer diagnosed in females in Australia. It is also the leading cause of cancer related deaths in females. Australian women diagnosed with breast cancer have an 88% chance of surviving 5 years after diagnosis.

Wish List

12 x weekly house cleaning gift vouchers - $100 per

week: For people like Claire from Huntingdale who

is going through chemotherapy and unable to lift or

carry heavy objects

24 x weekly grocery vouchers - $150 each: For

people like Jan from Parmelia and Rita from

Maddington who are unable to work during their

treatment and are finding it hard to make ends meet.

$2000 - Funds to assist people like Jenny from

Armadale with car payments as she is unable to work

during treatment.

12 x petrol gift vouchers - $50 each: To help Jane

from Rockingham get to and from appointments

Prosthesis loan - $380: For Helen from Joondanna

A Refresh day for patients and carers - $500: To

give them the chance to network and recharge their

batteries before the next round of treatment

A wig - $200: For people like Donna from Joondalup

who lost her hair during treatment

Rent assistance - $300 per week: For people like

Paula from Yanchep who is unable to work while

undergoing chemotherapy

Replacement washing machine - $600: for

unemployed single mum Marie from Northam who

has two bed wetting school aged children.

$5,500: Funds to assist families like Evana from

Lesmurdie who are left with huge gaps in her

medical bills.

Specially designed and fitted bras - $130 each: For

people like Sally from Collie

With your help and support our aim is to create a more supportive journey for

mothers, wives, daughters and friends who are diagnosed with breast cancer every

year.

Your donation towards one of the items on our Wish List that urgently needs funding will greatly assist in the recovery and well being of the many mums, wives, daughters and friends who need our support.

1 in 8 women in Australia

will be diagnosed with breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Australian women – With your help and through early detection and ongoing support, we can make a difference.