Mackay’s Robyn Mitchell shares cancer story ahead of Mother’s Day Classic

A mum of two’s life was tipped upside down when she received her breast cancer diagnosis. A decade later, she’s here to tell the women of Mackay you can continue to live a healthy life ahead of a 25-year event that means a lot to her.

Robyn Mitchell was 42 years of age when she found “the lump”.

Describing her lifestyle to that point as “like a bull at the gate”, receiving her breast cancer diagnosis felt as if someone had “tipped her whole life upside down”.

After surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, Ms Mitchell thought she would return to her normal life.

A decade after her initial diagnosis, the mother of two is resigned to the fact the “Big C” will likely follow her around forever.

Ms Mitchell views the upcoming Mother’s Day Classic as an important day for those diagnosed with breast cancer to recognise all the support systems available locally, and to emphasise breast cancer is “not a death sentence”.

“With all the awareness and the different clubs and talk groups, people are talking about it more and they’re seeing women like us, some of who are in their 70s and 80s active and in sport,” she said.

“The Mother’s Day Classic is a great way to support the women of the town that have been diagnosed, and also all of the families that get involved as well.”

Members of the Dragons Abreast team at a recent Mother’s Day Classic. Front L-R: Jewel Schmidt, Anne Tunnah, Joanne Hedrick, Karen Lean, Glenda Ware, Robyn Mitchell and Cheryl Machen. Back L-R: Wendy Stiplovsek, Meagan Ladner, Jenny Howarth and Wayne Hedrick

While every person diagnosed with breast cancer may be drawn to different support networks, for Ms Mitchell, it was the local dragon boating team, Dragons Abreast.

“I saw this notice for dragon boating and that it apparently helped prevent lymphedema, which is one of the complications women get after breast cancer surgery,” she said.

“So, after all my treatment, I joined up with the Dragons Abreast team and I’ve been there ever since.”

Ms Mitchell, a grandmother of two, said breast cancer changed her outlook on life altogether; a positive being that it forced her to “slow down and stop to smell the roses”, and enjoy all the small things life.

The Mother‘s Day Classic will celebrate its 25th anniversary on Sunday, May 8, again raising money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation to fund breast cancer research. All supporters are welcome to walk, run or jog to raise money for the cause.

While there has been a noticeable downturn in participants since the pandemic’s outbreak, Ms Mitchell is hopeful that with the world today back close to normal, the crowds will follow.

Registration for the Mackay Mother’s Day Classic can be organised online.