‘Mummy’s unwell’: How courageous mum beat health battle

A young mum who was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer has opened up about her shock diagnosis and shared a powerful message for others.

Young mum Mikaela Holzheimer has opened up about the shocking and devastating moment she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

At the young age of 23, Mikaela Holzheimer was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, and now she wants to share a powerful message with women and men across the country.

When the mum was changing her child’s nappy in 2021, and her daughter accidentally kicked her, Ms Holzheimer felt a pain in her chest and on closer inspection discovered a lump.

With no family history or any other symptoms, the Forest Hill mum said she sought the opinion of six doctors, but they all told her there was nothing to worry about.

When another kick by her daughter caused further pain, Ms Holzheimer booked a seventh appointment and demanded a biopsy.

It was through this courage in advocating for herself that her greatest fear was confirmed – she had stage three breast cancer – and she believes it may have even saved her life.

Young mum Mikaela Holzheimer has opened up about the shocking and devastating moment she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“I was in total disbelief, and I could not comprehend it (the news of the diagnosis),” she said.

“Whenever you hear the word ‘cancer’ your mind automatically thinks the worst and you go to some pretty dark places.”

Receiving the diagnosis in June 2021, Ms Holzheimer was referred to St Andrew’s Hospital and started her first round of treatment within two weeks.

But her biggest challenge was yet to come – how she would deliver the news to her husband and daughter who was only two-years-old at the time.

Ms Holzheimer credited her family for their endless support and said they had helped her to remain strong during her hardest health battle.

“We had to sit my daughter down and say ‘mummy’s a bit unwell’,” she said.

“Losing your hair is the moment you start to look sick, and you realise your body is in survival mode, so I was an emotional wreck when I shaved my head for the first time, so my daughter took off my beanie, put it on her head and said ‘now I look like mummy’.

“My husband told me I looked beautiful every day, and that really pushed me to make every moment count.”

Young mum Mikaela Holzheimer, pictured with her husband Jake and daughter Ariah, has opened up about the shocking and devastating moment she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

In December 2021, a unilateral mastectomy was performed on Ms Holzheimer to remove the affected breast and lymph nodes.

She then had her second breast removed to prevent further cancer from developing, followed by reconstructive surgery in March 2022.

After intense treatment which included 25 rounds of radiation and two rounds of chemotherapy her last treatment was in October 2022.

Ms Holzheimer said she was grateful for the support she had received from St Andrew’s Hospital’s breast surgeon Dr Eric Donaldson and oncologist Dr Natacha Sorour, as well as the team of Blush Cancer Care nurses.

Two years since she received her life-changing diagnosis and now aged 25, Ms Holzheimer is cancer-free and checks in with the oncology team every six months.

Young mum Mikaela Holzheimer has opened up about the shocking and devastating moment she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Following her chemotherapy treatment and despite fears she may never be able to fall pregnant again, she discovered she was four months pregnant.

The expectant mother is set to give birth to her second child in November.

Sharing a powerful message for others, Ms Holzheimer encouraged everyone to regularly check their breasts regardless of gender, age or having no family history of cancer.

“My advice is if you’re not happy with your first answer just keep fighting,” she said.

“I knew something was wrong, and had I ignored the signs there is every chance I would not be here to care for my daughter.”

Originally published as ‘Mummy’s unwell’: How courageous mum beat health battle