After breast cancer, Heather found strength through support – now she’s paying it forward
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When Heather Jackson received her breast cancer diagnosis in 2017, she wasn’t surprised. But she was heartbroken.
Her own mother was diagnosed at 39, so she knew the emotional and physical effect it could have. And even though she had yearly check-ups – which evolved to ultrasounds from the age of 35 and mammograms from the age of 40 – she always held out hope that she wouldn’t receive that life-changing phone call.
But she did.
Heather was 52 when her GP noticed calcification in her right breast and sent her for an ultrasound and biopsy. Two days later, he called her at 8.30 am to tell her to come in for an appointment – and to bring her husband.
At that moment, Heather knew.
“I had invasive breast cancer, which is a tumour in the breast tissue, and it was stage two,” she explains.
“I immediately knew what I was going to do because I had grown up around breast cancer.”
Heather chose to have a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, and two weeks later, she had both of her breasts removed.
Calling herself ‘lucky’ because it hadn’t spread to her lymph nodes and she didn’t need chemotherapy, she says she was a little bit more prepared than most. With one in seven women and one in 612 men at the risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, many people are left in shock, unsure of what to do or who to speak to.
For over thirty years, Bosom Buddies has been supporting people – like Heather – who have experienced this uncertainty. They provide compassionate care from the moment of diagnosis, throughout treatment, and beyond recovery.
When she started her own cancer journey, Heather already knew about the grassroots charity, thanks to her mother’s experience. But she found herself unable to pick up the phone to make the call herself due to the overwhelming flood of emotions she was feeling post-surgery, so her neighbour contacted Bosom Buddies on her behalf.
“I was linked up with a Bosom Buddy who contacted me via phone, and then we organised to catch up for coffee and have a chat,” explains Heather.
“It was good because the conversation was with someone who understood what I was going through.”
Eight years after she first joined the Bosom Buddies, Heather was elected President of the Management Committee.
Originally joining the support team and committee to give back the same care she received when she needed it most, nine years after her diagnosis, she still strongly believes in the work they do.
“I’m passionate about what Bosom Buddies does, what Bosom Buddies is able to provide, and I’m passionate about supporting people in the community who need it,” says Heather.
“Sometimes services are strained, so people can’t get into where they need to get in quickly, but they can call a Bosom Buddy anytime.”
A volunteer-driven organisation – predominantly made up of individuals who have personally battled breast cancer – Bosom Buddies has always relied on the support of the community.
This year, the charity is one of the 88 supported as part of the Hands Across Canberra Appeal.
Running throughout February and March, and culminating with the Canberra Day Appeal Fun Run on Monday 9 March, every dollar raised stays in the ACT.
Heather says that initiatives like this play an important role in the work they do.
“We also help people who need lymphedema sleeves, prosthetics and bras. We don’t just have phone calls with people; we also provide services as well.”
“We do that because of donations – that’s why it’s so important. Everything that we do is about raising awareness, because early detection is early intervention, which gives you a greater success.”
For Heather, the funds donated by the local community to Bosom Buddies – whether directly or through initiatives like Hands Across Canberra – helped her rebuild herself when she felt like she was falling apart.
“The Canberra Day Appeal is just amazing. There are so many charities to donate to, that if you can’t decide, you just donate to Hands Across Canberra, and they’ll disperse those funds equally across the other charities,” she says.
“I do get amazed sometimes by the generosity of people…people still do things and help people when some of them are struggling themselves.”
For more information about Bosom Buddies, visit bosombuddies.org.au. You can donate to The Canberra Day Appeal here.
