‘Gut-wrenching’: Mum-of-three Renee Elliott relapses breast cancer on 2 per cent chance

SA mum Renee Elliott thought she was in the clear, having done everything to eliminate the breast cancer she was diagnosed with five years ago, until she found another lump.

When mum-of-three Renee Elliott beat her breast cancer she was given a two per cent chance of it ever returning.

She underwent months of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and a bilateral reconstruction five years ago after she found a lump in her left breast.

But in 2023, when the Streaky Bay mum felt another lump, this time on her right breast, it was a feeling all too familiar.

“It was gut-wrenching,” the 39-year-old said.

“We obviously went through all these extreme measures to prevent it coming back.”

Renee Elliott, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019 and relapsed in 2023, with her family – husband Mark, and sons, 15-year-old Dylan, 12-year-old Joshua and 8-year-old Kaden. Picture: Supplied

One of those most devastated to hear of Renee’s diagnosis was her mum Judith Fiegert who has battled dual breast cancer diagnosis herself 20 years ago after finding a lump on the right hand side of her breast.

After months of chemotherapy, a mastectomy and a reconstruction, Ms Fiegert discovered the breast cancer had returned.

“When I went through it the second time … everything you were given at that time was ‘get your affairs in order, you might not survive’, and all this sort of stuff,” the 60-year-old said.

“I just shut that out, I just shut everybody out because I didn’t believe in that, I just went forward and was positive. It’s changed now, but at that time, things were, it’s over.”

Renee Elliott with her mum Judith Fiegert who both have battled breast cancer. Picture: Supplied

Renee said telling her mum that she had breast cancer was “surreal”.

“It was quite hard watching her go through the treatment,” Renee said.

“When I was diagnosed, in the back of my mind (I thought), ‘well she’s done it, I can do it’ … she’s quite inspirational.”

Judith would offer her daughter advice, “whether she wanted it or not”.

Prior to Renee’s initial diagnosis she witnessed her mum battle breast cancer and since was always vigilant about checking her breasts.

For Ms Fiegert watching her daughter go through what she did was horrific.

“It was quite devastating (to hear Renee had breast cancer),” Ms Fiegert said.

“She has three children, and we just had to be positive because of (them), we had to be positive for her.”

Renee is a mum of three boys, 15-year-old Dylan, 12-year-old Joshua and 8-year-old Kaden — Kaden was only three when Renee was first diagnosed.

“(They) have always been my motivation to get out of bed,” she said.

“If I’m having a sh**ty day … I have to get to school to drop them off, so that was always my motivation to get up in the morning.”

Having gone through breast cancer themselves, the pair have committed to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research including raising $11,000 through their local coffee shop in only two hours.

“The research and funding that’s gone into breast cancer has been so positive for everybody,” Ms Fiegert said.

“Now it’s not as much of a death sentence as it used to be, people are getting through and surviving.”

Ms Fiegert said when she went through treatment the medication was “much harder” on the body then it was for her daughter, thanks to research which has made it better for patients.

The McGrath Foundation has unveiled the McGrath Foundation Fundraising Super Squad to inspire Australia to raise funds this Breast Cancer Awareness Month which runs throughout October.

Launching 57 days prior to the beginning of October to acknowledge the 57 Australians diagnosed with breast cancer each day, the McGrath Foundation is calling on Australians to register to host a fundraising event to raise money for breast cancer.