Nat is a loving mother of five, a dedicated primary school teacher, and once co-owned a business with her husband. For Nat, balancing the demands of family, work, and business, along with the constant stress and pressure that came with it, was just part of her everyday routine.
In her early 30s, knowing a classmate who had faced breast cancer, Nat began to check her own breasts regularly. At 37, while taking a shower, she discovered a lump the size of a frozen pea at the bottom of her chest.
“The lump wasn’t moving, and I thought, ‘This wasn’t here before. It doesn’t feel right.’ So that week, I reached out to my GP.”
Her GP referred her for an ultrasound, and the technician suggested a biopsy. A week later, Nat was diagnosed with early-stage 1 breast cancer. Her doctor explained that the cancer was hormonal (oestrogen positive and progesterone positive), which might have been triggered by stress.
Taking a Step Back from Stress
“The day we found out about the diagnosis, my husband immediately called the teacher I was working with and said, ‘She’s not coming back to work.’”
Coincidentally, just a week before her diagnosis, Nat and her husband sold their business. Without the added worry of work and business, Nat was able to focus fully on her treatment and self-care. She had a full left mastectomy two weeks after her diagnosis.
A Calm Roller Coaster Ride
With her medical team organised and every detail in place, Nat found comfort in the structure and support surrounding her.
“It felt like a roller coaster ride, but everything was set up so perfectly that I didn’t have to be frantic. I was calm because I knew I was in really good hands.”
Nat was grateful for the way her oncologist and surgeon communicated with her and her husband.
“My oncologist and surgeon were incredible at explaining things clearly. We always had questions, and they answered them with such care and patience. It really put me at ease to know I was in such great hands.”
She appreciated how her team of professionals treated her with respect and spoke in a way she could understand.
“They’re just regular people like me. They didn’t use confusing medical jargon. If I had a question, they always explained it in simple terms. That made a huge difference for me.”
Chemotherapy Was Tough, but Support Made It Easier
“Chemotherapy was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and I’ve had five children without any pain relief. Chemo was way harder.”
Nat spoke about the challenges of chemotherapy, from the highs of feeling okay one day to the lows of tough side effects the next.
“One day your adrenaline is high, and you’re feeling really good, but the next day you might have ulcers in your mouth, and it’s hard to eat. You look in the mirror and you don’t recognise yourself anymore.”
Through it all, Nat felt deeply supported by her friends and family.
“I was so lucky to be surrounded by love. I received so many gifts and cards, and that made a big difference for me. My parents aren’t expressive verbally, but they were showing their love in other ways, like preparing food or helping with chores. It’s their love language.”
She also found solace in her love for the sea and sunrises.
‘Even though I couldn’t swim because of my surgery, watching the sunrise at the beach really helped. You’ve just got to hold on to the thought that this time will come to pass, this will soon be over, and you’ll be able to look like yourself again.’
Finding Hope Through a New Adventure
During treatment, Nat’s husband, Vera, suggested they needed something to look forward to. He organised a fundraiser to take Nat on a holiday to Europe.
“The support from the fundraiser was incredible. I was 13 weeks post-chemo, still without hair and carrying extra weight, but the trip was such a joy. It was a gift from Vera, our family, and friends, and it meant the world to me.”
They also planned a family trip to America two months later, recognising that their children needed something to look forward to as well.
“We all needed a break and something to look forward to, so we went on a trip to America. It was a special time for all of us.”
Life After Breast Cancer
For Nat, breast cancer was a chapter, it doesn’t define her whole story.
“Life is good now. I’m back to exercising and travelling, and I’m enjoying life. There’s always life after the diagnosis and breast cancer. Life doesn’t stop there.”
