May 2006
The Young Ones
May 2006 Newsletter
In this month’s The Young Ones newsletter . . .
We celebrate Holly Shorland's success in publishing her work about her experience of breast cancer. Read an article she wrote for If Not magazine, published in poster form on walls around Melbourne, and hear about her comic which appears on our website and in a new publication.
We also hear about the experiences of one of our members who visited the Quest for Life Centre.
May, and especially Mothers' Day, can be a time we remember the effect breast cancer has on our families. Many of our members walked or ran in the Mothers' Day event around the Tan in Melbourne. Some of us participated to remember those we’ve lost, as well as ourselves and others we know who have been diagnosed, while raising money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation who devote funds to research around breast cancer.
You may also have seen Young Ones members Mary, Mel, Robyn, Allison, Christine, Sue, Marlene and me carrying the pink lady flag onto the MCG as part of the pre-game event of the Pink Lady Game between the Fremantle Dockers and Melbourne. The pre-Mothers' Day game raised over $12,000 for Breast Cancer Network Australia.
Rita Marigliani, The Young Ones Coordinator
AAMI “Belonging” Small Grants Program awarded to The Young Ones
Tanya Wilson, The Young Ones founder, recently applied for a grant under this program which supports community based organisations AAMI staff are involved in. I am pleased to report that we were successful and have received $1,229. Thank you to Tanya and to AAMI for your much appreciated support.
Holly Sharland shares her experience of breast cancer
Holly, diagnosed with breast cancer at 32, uses her artistic flare to express the feelings of how things have changed. This article appeared in If Not magazine that is published in poster form on walls around Melbourne.
Eye of the survivor
Cancer is a weird disease. It kills less people than heart disease every
year, but if you told someone you had heart disease, they'd be unlikely
to start talking to you in the past tense. They'd just expect you to
start eating muesli. Not so with cancer.
Me: 'I've got cancer.'
Friend: 'Shit, really? And you've been such a good friend.'
Most people, people who haven't had it, see cancer as this big, dramatic
disease, full of wailing ambulances and teary bedside visits. But it's
not. You usually don't even feel sick from it. It's often just the
treatment for cancer that makes you feel (and look) sick.
Even so, going through chemotherapy and radiation therapy isn't the
hardest part about having cancer. Maybe this will sound strange, but for
me it was the afterwards part, the part where you're supposed to be all
better, and everyone is relieved and happy that you're okay - that's
when things were hardest.
When my treatment finished, my family and friends happily believed I was
cured. But cancer has no cure. So while my Nan was buying me pot-plants,
and my friends were inviting me on overseas trips, I was quietly trying
to decide who I would leave my records to when I died. Because, despite
what non-cancer people believe, facing death doesn't mean beating death.
Facing death actually means accepting death. And it means accepting
death for yourself and for everyone you love.
Meanwhile, my friends and family crowded around me, wanting to hear how
much more I appreciated sunsets and newborn babies now. (Sunsets, yes,
babies, no - unless I know the parents.) They wanted to hear me declare
I'd give away every single thing I owned if it meant another chance at
love with my high-school sweetheart. (I probably would do this, but I'd
have to see what he looks like now.) And they treated me like a
superhero, all-seeing, all-knowing.
Friend having an abortion: 'You're my inspiration.'
Friend leaving lover: 'You've been through so much, I know you
understand.'
Friend with a bad cough: 'You of all people can relate.'
I'm no party-pooper. If they were going to feel better seeing me as this
powerful warrior that killed death forever, I wasn't going to spoil
things for them. It's easier to believe the world is safe, and bad
things always end well. So when they looked at me, I made sure that's
what they saw. A survivor who gave them hope.
For me, though, taking the right drugs and crossing my fingers (cancer
has no cure, remember) was nothing. All it took was time. But finding
the courage to love life again, knowing full well it's going to end -
that took a lot more, and its worth a lot more to me.
Even if no one else ever saw it happen.
Holly Shorland
Operation Funnybone, a book of comic art which incorporates 80 young Australians and is produced by the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, features Drip, Drip, Drip by Holly. You may have seen an article about the book and Holly’s comic in The Age, May 11. The comic depicts Holly’s experience of diagnosis, treatment and life after a breast cancer diagnosis at 32.
You can see Drip, Drip, Drip on our website at: http://www.theyoungones.asn.au/articles#65
Operation Funnybone is available from Readers Feast bookstore for $29.95 or www.funnybone.org.au. All profits from the sale of this publication will go to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
One of our members visits The Quest for Life Centre:
In March of this year, I spent the most wonderful five days at Petrea King's Quest for Life Centre in Bundanoon NSW. The Quest for Life centre was started by Petrea King, a cancer survivor. They run a range of different programs for people facing various challenges in their lives. I participated in the 'Quest for Life' program, which is specifically designed for people (and their partners) who have had cancer.
Initially, I was concerned that I may find the experience confronting but it turned out to be fantastic. The program was run by Petrea King and two other facilitators. There were about 20 people attending at the same time as me and we spent our days in workshops discussing different aspects of our journey. I learned how important it is to look after my physical, mental and spiritual self. I was also introduced to different ways of looking at life. I liked the fact that the program was not prescriptive. The facilitators emphasised that we are all individuals and we all need to listen to our own inner voices. The program was a spiritual and healing experience which I would highly recommend to anyone who needs to take some time out to pamper themselves physically, mentally and spiritually.
Petrea King's book Your Life Matters - The Power of Living Now probably summarises a lot of the course content covered. You can also access more information on the website www.questforlife.com.au.
Robin Feldman
What’s Happening Next Month? (See The Young One website for updates)
Thursday 1 June, 6.00pm
“Breast Cancer Genetics: New Tools Offer New Hope”
To be given by Associate Professor Ian Campbell, Head, Cancer Genetics Laboratory, Victorian Breast Cancer Research Consortium.
At: Cardiology Lecture Theatre, Building 1B, 2nd Floor, Room 2319, Royal Melbourne Hospital (Enter via car park or main entrance)
RSVP Friday 26 May 9342 7888
The Breast Cancer Support Group of The Bone Marrow Donor Institute
Friday 16 June
The Cancer Council Victoria
Living well with breast cancer
Program begins at 9.30am
Venue: The Mary Aikenhead Conference Centre
St Vincent’s Hospital
Victoria Parade, Fitzroy
RSVP: 13 11 20
BreaCan is free, confidential information, support and referral service for people with breast cancer, their families and friends. Open 10am-2pm Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Wednesday 7 & 21t June, 10.30-11.30am “Feel Good” Gentle Exercise Program for Women with Breast Cancer
Wednesday 7 June, 12.00-1.30pm The Shape of Things – Bras, Boobs and Breast Forms
Velia Mclean, an experienced corsetry and mastectomy fitter who has personally experienced breast cancer, will cover the finer points in finding that elusive well fitting bra. Pauline and Joy, who have also experienced breast cancer, will model the bras. The session will cover traditional bras, bras for breast forms and bathers, as well as tips on looking after your bras and breast forms.
Thursday 22 June, 12.00-2.30pm Frequently Asked Questions About Reflexology
Reflexology is a system of health care, incorporating mind, body and spirit. It offers tangible benefits to those living with a diagnosis of cancer and complements existing treatments. Jennifer Rigby and Simone Herd are reflexologists and registered nurses with extensive backgrounds in Palliative Care. They will explain reflexology, and you are then invited to try a complimentary 15 minute reflexology session and experience it for yourself. Please call to book in to this session if you would like a complementary reflexology treatment, spaces will be limited.
BreaCan Resource Centre
Ground Floor
Queen Victoria Women’s Centre
210 Lonsdale St, Melbourne
POSTAL PO Box 1066, Melbourne Vic 3001
PHONE 1300 781 500 (cost of a local call for country callers)
FAX (03) 9921 0840
breacan@breacan.org.au
www.breacan.org.au
Newsletter Contributions
We welcome all contributions to and feedback on the newsletter. If you’ve recently read a book, seen a website, lecture or production that you think other young women who have experienced breast cancer would be interested in, we’d love to hear from you. Send all your story, reviews contributions and feedback to ritamarigliani@netspace.net.au
Our next meeting
Our next meeting will be on Thursday 29 June 2 at 7pm Cafe Coco, 129 Smith St Collingwood.
Contact details Rita Marigliani
The Young Ones Coordinator:
041 123 5964
Email: ritamarigliani@netspace.net.au
Postal Address: 48 Andrew St. Windsor Vic 3181
Website: www.theyoungones.asn.au
