Brisbane schoolteacher Kendall Lette battles breast cancer

A Brisbane teacher flung into ‘medical menopause’ at 31 due to a breast cancer diagnosis has bid farewell to her hair, her eyebrows, her breast and her job — but is fighting to save her chance to be a mum.

A young Brisbane teacher left floored by a breast cancer diagnosis says she has struggled to rediscover her identity after losing her hair, breasts, her job — and possibly her fertility too.

Carina woman Kendall Lette, an art teacher at Murrumba Secondary State College, knew that something wasn’t right in her body but never expected it to be breast cancer.

At only 31 years old Ms Lette was busy enjoying life like any young woman, breast cancer was the last thing on her mind.

However, at the end of last year, she started feeling amiss and couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was.

In the shower a couple of weeks later Ms Lette had the urge to check her breasts and found a lump.

A subsequent ultrasound and biopsy revealed that it was breast cancer. Suddenly, life became clinical and frightening.

Ms Lette said when she received her official diagnosis of stage two breast cancer on November 10, 2021, it felt like a slap in the face.

Carina woman Kendall Lette and her partner Tom Sealy. Photo – contributed.

“The shock and impact of the news just hits you,” she said.

“I remember getting emotional and ringing my mum and the doctor told her everything because I was just sitting there in shock and couldn’t take any of it in.”

Ms Lette underwent a lumpectomy, lost her beautiful long hair, her eyebrows and eyelashes, and started IVF treatment — fast tracking a decision she and her partner thought they had years to make.

She also fought through an infection and being diagnosed with Covid-19 while undergoing chemotherapy.

She said her previously stable, career-focused life was thrown into turmoil and she found herself grappling with her identity and her definition of femineity.

“I was devastated when they told me the chemo could affect my fertility … we thought we had years and I’ve always wanted to be a mum,” Ms Lette confessed.

“All of my friends are starting to have kids at the moment and it’s so hard because I want to be happy for them but deep down I wish that was me.

“I wish it was that easy and natural for me.”

Carina woman Kendall Lette and her partner Tom Sealy. Photo: Contributed.

Terrified the IVF wouldn’t work, Ms Lette and her partner Tom Sealy were dreading hearing back from her fertility doctor on Christmas Eve.

“That was the best Christmas gift of all,” Ms Lette said.

“Finding out I had 11 embryos going in the freezer when I might not have had any.”

In January this year, Ms Lette started chemotherapy with the support of her McGrath Breast Care Nurse Melissa Gosper at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

“It was awful and debilitating. It felt like this horrible hangover that wouldn’t end,” Ms Lette said about her experience with chemo.

“I felt like a shell of a human. I couldn’t think properly and had this horrible fog which we call chemo brain.

“It’s so frustrating, being young I was so fit and healthy last year but now I’ve been put in a medical menopause where my body has changed and it’s all out of my control.”

Despite the pain and physical battle that came with her diagnosis, Ms Lette said it was the mental battle which tested her the most.

“I’ve lost it all … everything that I thought made me beautiful and feminine has gone,” she said.

“My breasts, hair, and lashes once made me feel very attractive, sexy and like a woman.

“At the start I felt betrayed by my breasts.

“But now I know that isn’t what makes me womanly and I am so much more than my appearance and ability to have children naturally.

“Some day it’s hard to look in the mirror and like what I see but I’m learning.

“As awful as it's been this cancer has helped me to love and appreciate all of me.”

Carina woman Kendall Lette and her partner Tom Sealy. Photo – contributed.

Ms Lette has her last round of chemo on May 31, and has plans to meet with a plastic surgeon to discuss a reconstruction for her breasts.

She said she couldn’t imagine going through this alone and credits her McGrath Breast Cancer nurse and her loving partner for supporting her through her battle.

“I don’t think there’s enough awareness about the effects of going through something like this and most young girls probably don’t even know how to check their breasts … I know I didn’t before this,” Ms Lette said.

“I went from being a very busy career-driven woman and having to slow down and look after my health. I had to learn the hard way that you are not what you see in the mirror or what others deem feminie.

“Your body is amazing no matter what it looks like. It’s always fighting and healing.

“My advice is be kind to yourself and learn to love yourself.

“It’s about what’s on the inside … that’s what makes you feminine and beautiful.”

Ms Lette said her hair has started to grow back, and she is hoping to return to teaching in 2023.