Angela Chambers‘ plea after learning Mount Gambier lacks necessary breast cancer treatment

After finding “one big lump” on Christmas Eve that turned out to be breast cancer, SA woman Angela Chambers didn’t think things could get much worse. How wrong she was.

Angela Chambers “wanted to cry” after learning she would have to pay out-of-pocket for her breast cancer treatment because her hometown did not provide the necessary medical care.

The 50-year-old was diagnosed with the deadly disease in January of this year, after she found “one big lump” that felt like “a solid bone” between her breasts on Christmas Eve.

Ms Chambers said she remembers thinking: “Merry Christmas! You’ve got cancer!”, as soon as she made the frightening discovery, and she promptly sought medical advice.

She visited her local Mount Gambier GP, who directed her to get an ultrasound, a mammogram, and a biopsy, which unfortunately, resulted in a diagnosis no woman wants to receive.

Ms Chambers said when the breast surgeon told her over the phone she had cancer, she “didn’t freak out” but just kept thinking: “What am I going to do now?”.

Then she learnt the local Mount Gambier hospital didn’t offer the treatment she needed. Instead she would have to drive almost five hours one-way into Adelaide for her MRIs and surgery and then two hours to Warrnambool in Victoria for the radiotherapy.

She feared her work as a relief teacher would not be enough to cover her treatment, travel, accommodation and essential living expenses, as well as support her 16-year-old son, Eric, who would stay at home.

Angela Chambers was diagnosed with breast cancer after she found “one, big lump” that felt like “a solid bone” between her breasts on Christmas Eve. Source: Supplied.

Angela Chambers will have to pay out-of-pocket for her breast cancer treatment. Source: Supplied.

“It was when I found out that Mount Gambier didn’t have the treatment to help me … I just wanted to collapse and start crying,” she said. “Then I switched to feeling this intense anger.”

Ms Chambers said these difficult circumstances were further complicated by a lack of a support system.

“I don’t have family in South Australia or a partner who could support me,” she said.

“I’ve recruited a few friends to help me while I travel to my medical appointments because I don’t know what sort of side effects I will experience as a result of treatment.

“While I’m away, I’m also going to get a friend to look after my boy Eric, just in case.”

However, the mother-of-two considers herself lucky to have discovered the lump early.

“At the moment, the doctors are not too sure if it’s a stage one or two cancer but the prognosis seems to be good,” she said. “We just have to keep praying for all to be good.”

To help Ms Chambers with her medical and travel expenses – donate here.

Originally published as Angela Chambers‘ plea after learning Mount Gambier lacks necessary breast cancer treatment