Be Health Smart The Chemo Chic's Breast Cancer Support Group

Two

Local Mission Beach ladies are not letting their Breast Cancer diagnoses hold them back. Therese Forrest and Debra Mc Ateer were both diagnosed in 2016 and decided after they met, while both were going through Chemotherapy, that they would start a Breast Cancer Support Group for Women and Men who are diagnosed with Breast Cancer in Mission Beach, Tully, Cardwell and Kurrimine Beach.

There had yet to be a support group in the area for them to attend.

The Innisfail Breast Cancer Support Group do a fantastic job supporting women in the Innisfail area with Breast

Cancer. Debra and Therese keep in touch with Zoe Dunn and the group, with regular catch-ups organised.

Both support groups have Facebook pages you are welcome to look up.

The Oncology Liz Plummer Cancer Care Centre in Cairns refers women diagnosed with Breast Cancer to the group in the very early stages of their diagnoses. As do local Medical Centres on the Cassowary Coast.

Six years on, Chemo Chics is still going strong, helping ladies and men who need support. Helping to explain to patients what will happen to them now that they have received a positive diagnosis. Particularly as it can be very confronting and hard to believe you have been

Diagnosed

Chemo Chics Breast Cancer Support Group Mission Beach, Tully Cassowary Coast

Contact: Debra Mc Ateer 0455 536 574

Therese Forrest 0428 188 366

You Are Not Alone

Debra and Therese explain what will happen to their group members regarding treatments and how the side effects of the drugs will affect their well-being and their families. Family members may find it challenging to see their relatives so unwell.

They explain what procedures must be done, what services can be accessed for financial help, and reimbursement for travel and accommodation while visiting Doctors and having treatment in Cairns.

The Chemo Chics support McGrath Foundation, which provides Breast Care Nurses for women undergoing treatment and has contributed to other worthy Cancer projects with donations from the Cassowary Coast Community members.

REMEMBER, LADIES, PLEASE HAVE A REGULAR MAMMOGRAM!

Or visit your doctor if you notice a lump in your breast or anything unusual.

Symptoms of Breast Cancer:

• New Lump in the breast or thickening in the breast, especially if in only one breast

• Bloody discharge from the nipple

• Changes in the shape and texture of the nipple

• Redness somewhere on the breasts

• Sore nipples

• Discomfort or swelling in the armpit

• Breast dimpling of the skin

It is estimated that 20,600 Australians were diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2022. That is 1 in 7 women annually.

Debra can be contacted on 0455536574, or Therese can be contacted on 0428188 366