Far North breast cancer story: Kathleen Gould from Innisfail says Dry July funds helped
A Far North mother has told her cancer story and how funds from Dry July campaign helped change her life. But the fear her cancer will come back never leaves her mind. FIND OUT MORE
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AFTER a heartbreaking year, a Far North mother has completed her breast cancer treatment and looked back on how funds from Dry July made her experience better.
Kathleen Gould from Innisfail was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2020, but it was something she was all too familiar with having watched several family members going through it.
“I was diagnosed with two types of breast cancers,” she said.
“I was in a bit of a shock and disbelief. I had always been vigil, my sister had breast cancer eight years ago.”
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Ms Gould said at the beginning of the diagnosis her whole world was turned upside down but the McGrath Foundation helped with the process.
“When I was diagnosed in the first few weeks with all the X-rays and scans you just don’t know which way to turn,” she said.
“The moment I met Deirdre Duyvestyn (McGrath breast care nurse) it was wonderful. She is the co-ordinator between the hospital and specialist appointments.”
“Every time you go to a specialist, you can ring them up later on. Because your mind is spinning, when you get out I found I had a lot of questions that I didn’t have time to ask.
“They navigated me through the medical jargon.”
While Ms Gould said the doctor said she was cancer free, she is still concerned.
“I am feeling good, I am getting the energy back,” she said.
“But it’s the mental state, worrying about your future, knowing that I have a high per cent of it coming back, knowing my sister had the hormonal cancer eight years and its back now.”
Which is why Ms Gould has decided to take some time off from her work as a manager of cleaning, laundry and the kitchen ina nursing home.
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“We are going on a holiday in September and November,” she said.
“We will just be travelling a bit, taking a bit of time for myself.”
Ms Gould said she was so grateful for the support she received from Dry July.
“Dry July is soon and if we can support these woman in does help,” she said.
Dry July donations topped an outstanding $73m with over 38,000 Aussies going dry to raise funds for those affected by cancer.
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Originally published as Far North breast cancer story: Kathleen Gould from Innisfail says Dry July funds helped
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