Those words dispelled a fraction of the fear that comes with such a diagnosis, especially after losing her husband Noel’s mother to the disease 13 years ago.
Now cancer-free, Diane’s experience is one she is keen to share with other women, in the hope they will listen to their bodies and always seek a second opinion.
“I found a mass and went to a GP, who wasn’t my normal GP; she said it was just fatty tissue and as I wasn’t 50 and had no family history not to worry about it,” Diane said.
“About four months later I was lying in bed with my arms behind my head when Noel poked me under my arm, the pain was so intense.”
A day later she saw her usual GP, was referred for a mammogram and underwent a biopsy and the next day was delivered the devastating news.
“The lump was 66 mm x 44 mm and it was an early, but aggressive, stage-three breast cancer,” Diane said.
Referred to a surgeon in Melbourne, subsequent scans revealed the cancer had only spread as far as two nearby lymph nodes.
“Another month and it may have been a different story,” Noel said.
The oncology team’s plan was to attack the cancer with chemotherapy and radiotherapy followed by surgery.
“My surgeon was concerned that due to the size of the tumour if she operated first she may not get it all so she went the other way around,” Diane said.
After six months of chemotherapy at the Peter Copulos Cancer and Wellness Centre at Goulburn Valley Health, Shepparton, and daily radiation for five weeks in Melbourne, the tumour had shrunk enough for a simultaneous mastectomy and breast reconstruction surgery.
“The bonus of all this is I’ve had a tummy tuck; they used the tissue from my tummy to rebuild my breast. I’ve never had such a flat tummy in my life,” Diane said.
Another positive was the availability of the Think Pink Foundation’s accommodation for regional patients undergoing cancer treatment in Melbourne, which allowed Noel to stay with Diane during the radiotherapy.
While there Diane participated in The Yarra’s Edge Progressive Marathon, a major fundraiser for the foundation that encourages entrants to walk 42.2 km at their own pace from May 4 to 18.
“I had taken up running at Shepparton Park Run before all this happened and when I was having radiotherapy in Melbournewe were living across the road from the botanical gardens soI started walking again,” Diane said.
“The marathon was a good way to raise money for the organisation and it kept me going; it felt like I was getting back to my old life.
“I remained very positive in myself, but don’t get me wrong, there were moments when I sat there and cried and questioned ‘why me?’
“My life has completely changed and for the better. Before all of this happened, I would have been in denial about turning 50 in December but now I say bring it on.
“I’m so much more positive. Life is too short — you have to enjoy what you’ve got while you can.”