Becoming a breast cancer advocate

Single mum of two young children Amy Boyd was just 38-years-old when she was told the devastating news that would change her life forever. Her journey started on the 14^th of November 2019, when she first found a lump in her breast.

“I was sitting on the couch and happened to lean on my left side and by chance felt a lump in my left breast. I assumed it was just a cyst, but thought it would be important to get checked out.”

After receiving an ultrasound, Amy was reassured that the lump was only an enlarged lymph node and nothing to worry about. However in her gut she felt something wasn’t right, an instinct her GP agreed with.

This year alone, Amy has gone to 115 appointments (and counting) as part of her treatment. As a single mum of 9-year-old Knox and 6-year-old Eva, Amy says the experience of receiving cancer treatment, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, was made even more overwhelming.

“After a cancer diagnosis, you lose control. When I went to hospital during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, my family weren’t able to visit me and I wasn’t allowed to see my children for 15 days. Experiences like that were the most difficult part. Telling my kids that I had cancer was really hard, but throughout my treatment they have never once looked at me differently. Eva wants to be a nurse like me and would help moisturise my radiation burns.”

“It was absolutely a source of comfort that I could prevent any damage to my heart and lungs. After speaking to my radiation oncologist and doing some further research, I really understood the importance of DIBH. The process of holding my breath was easy after I learned the pattern.”

“I tried to go to a support group in Mandurah but everyone there was over the age of 65. I have young children, we’re at a different stage in our lives. The best therapy for me has been talking to women in similar situations. I posted on my blog when I was in hospital after my mastectomy and a follower commented that she was there as well. I managed to find her in the hospital and we hung out together! It was such a meaningful experience.”

“I think it’s really important to shine a light on what happens during treatment, from posting photos of the realities of side effects to providing a platform for other breast cancer patients to learn from what I’ve experienced. I didn’t realise how far it’s travelled or the impact it has on people, but a lot of breast cancer patients have found it from other pages and now comment with their own experiences.”

Now halfway through her next round of chemotherapy treatment, Amy is looking forward to finishing active treatment in March next year and then celebrating her 40^th birthday. She urges young women with breast cancer to take charge of their health and be an advocate for themselves and others.