FOUR weeks ago Marie Martin was booked in to have breast augmentation surgery.
Two weeks later, the mother of two is coming to terms with losing both breasts.
A routine scan just prior to her planned ‘boob job’ led to the discovery of a lump in one of her breasts.
Many tests later Ms Martin was told she had aggressive breast cancer.
But the news that should have crushed her served only to ignite an inner fire.
The battle to save the 40-year-old local resident has begun.
And she is leading the charge.
“It’s me against the cancer now,” she said.
“And the cancer is not going to win.
“I’m going to fight, fight, fight.”
Having never had a mammogram, Ms Martin was surprised she was at risk of breast cancer, and is now urging women in their 30s and 40s to get checked.
She is also relieved she chose to have her breast augmentation performed in Australia where preliminary breast scans are routine before the operation.
“Had I gone to Thailand I still would not know I had cancer,” Ms Martin said.
“I would be none the wiser.”
Following a double mastectomy it would be reasonable to expect Ms Martin to rest up; to take it easy and recover.
But so determined is she to prevent other women going through her ordeal, she has dedicated the past couple of weeks to educating her friends and family on the importance of breast checks.
On Sunday she even ran four kilometres in support of breast cancer awareness.
I can't just do nothing.
- Marie Martin
“I can’t just do nothing,” she said.
“Do you know what? I’m doing this for all the women who would never think to get a mammogram.
“This is just too important.”
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian women.
And with one in eight likely to have to deal with it at some point, Ms Martin’s message couldn’t be more timely.
She feels lucky hers was caught before it was too late.
Early detection will most likely be her saviour.
“My doctor said by the time I felt the lump in about 12 months it would have been too late for me,” she said.
“But now I have a chance to beat it.
“I’m never going to give up.”
Ms Martin is expected to start undergoing chemotherapy next week.
An “amazing” group of parents from her sons’ school has banded together and organised a cooking roster for the family and Ms Martin said the community support behind her had been “unbelievable.”
Her eldest son Lucas, 11, is even donating $5 a week from his football umpiring money to breast cancer research.
“It sounds strange, but I feel so lucky,” she said.
“I am only looking at this as a positive.
“I refuse to be negative.
“I refuse to lay down and die.”
