We caught up with Elise on her experience with the McGrath Foundation. Read her story.

Could you please tell us how you came to be diagnosed with breast cancer?

At 32, I thought I had everything. I was fit, healthy and happy running marathons and smashing it as a well-respected Senior Marketer at a large bank. I was eating well, fitter and leaner than I’d ever been and had my family and friends around me. In my mind and to people who knew me, I was the epitome of good health.

But the night before my 33rd birthday, I had just returned home from a pre-birthday dinner with a friend and found a lump in my right breast just before bed. I booked an appointment with my doctor two days later (I was NOT talking cancer on my birthday), and two weeks later after scans and biopsies, was shocked to discover it was Triple Negative Breast cancer, one of the most aggressive and difficult to treat.

While it had seemed I was healthy, my body had been giving me signs I was running it into the ground for a year with fatigue, persistent infections and aches. I was so persistent that I ignored my body and refused to rest. It seemed I was exceptional at doing but I wasn’t doing the right things to take care of myself (more on this later!)

How did you feel when you were diagnosed?

Shock, horror and completely out of control. You don’t comprehend ‘you have aggressive cancer and need to start aggressive treatment urgently’ part and only ‘you’ve caught it early so you could be cured’. The doctor who delivered my news quickly followed with how she booked an IVF doctor appointment the next day and my oncologist the following. In my IVF appointment (I was single, not thinking about children and only just learning why egg-freezing was important), I had to decide to start treatment immediately because my oncologist (who I was yet to meet), said we couldn’t delay chemotherapy. An utter whirlwind! I just wanted regular work meetings with problems I could solve!

I wanted to work as usual and didn’t want anyone to know, but in one of my breaks, I was reading my ‘early breast cancer’ booklet at my desk and was horrified to realise I’d lose my hair, eyebrows, eyelashes, possibly go into early menopause, possibly develop a secondary cancer from chemotherapy or radiation, and saw the horribly lower survival rate for Triple Negative Breast Cancer. It was a LOT to take in and I had a LOT of thoughts and feelings – I might die, I wouldn’t be myself, everyone would feel sorry for me, everything I had worked hard for was gone, but realised the most important was to be positive, optimistic, and focus on the things that would keep me alive.

That week, I started daily hormone injections to freeze my eggs, shave my head before my hair fell out, had an operation to have a chemo line inserted into my chest – and of course, 2 weeks later, started chemo with its horrendous side-effects. 15 months later, I completed 11 months of chemo, lumpectomy surgery and 28 rounds of radiation, all while I continued to work and exercise (I feel exhausted reading that!)

When and how did you meet Peta, your McGrath Breast Care Nurse?

Peta was in my first appointment with my oncologist. She jumped into the room, introduced herself and then immediately made me feel comfortable, understand what was being said to me and lightened the very heavy mood!

How did Peta support you?

I think Peta quickly realised it was important I remain highly capable and independent. She offered to help me co-ordinate appointments (which I politely refused), sent me extra links to review and helped me understand the medical jargon from appointments. We often met for coffees to chat and get to know each other, and she helped connect me to other young women who were receiving treatment at the centre, one of which is still a great friend today!

What was the impact of having that support for you? How different would your experience have been if you didn’t have the care of a McGrath Breast Care Nurse?

Peta connected the dots – chemotherapy oncologist to radiation oncologist, surgeon, IVF appointments and into clinical trials. She was the constant in a constantly changing treatment regime. She helped me understand medical jargon, feel confident I was receiving the most up-to-date, effective treatment protocol, but gave me the information I needed to research for myself too. She was my second mum who truly understood what I was going through and changed her approach to suit my personality and needs. She made everything I went through; every stage and every set-back feel achievable and normal. Whilst I was incredibly competent as a high-achieving young woman in the corporate world, without Peta – I would be lost.

Where are you up to now in your breast cancer experience?

After 15 months of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, I wasn’t cured and had a high chance of the cancer coming back, so I set out to understand what health really was. I made changes to my diet and lifestyle because I didn’t want to die but realised this reconnected me with who I was meant to be: Slower, respectful, and connected to my body - armed with the tools to help others change too.

I’m about to finish a 2 year immunotherapy trial which aims to teach my immune system to recognise one of the proteins present in my tumour and kill it (hopefully killing any chance of my cancer returning).

I’m now 3 years since diagnosis, and my annual scans have just returned clear. I’m officially through the most likely chance of recurrence, but not completely out of the woods. I can’t ever say I’m cured or stop the underlying worry, but I try to believe the changes I made to my lifestyle will keep me cancer-free and healthy for many, many years!

How does health and fitness play a role in your life now?

As part of the changes I made, I studied health and nutrition coaching. In doing this and a whole bunch of other healing experiences, I realised I don’t need to run myself into the ground to be healthy. So while I’m still very fit - top 5% in my age-group on Garmin ;). I no longer run marathons but exercise most days. I’ve integrated meditation and stillness into my days, knowing that this makes me feel most connected and alive. I eat a predominantly plant-based diet focused on whole foods, very rarely drink alcohol, do infra-red saunas, intermittent fasting, prioritise 8.5 hrs sleep and have a wonderful partner Ben and puppy Frankie.

I’m still a senior Marketer at a bank working 4 days so I can help other busy women take control of their health before they run themselves into the ground like I did, or help them back to health if they do. I’ve launched Own Your Health Coach Programs and Own Your Chemo Care Kits help young women reconnect with their bodies and give them the tools and support to make small, lasting changes that help them live a long, healthy, meaningful life. I hope I can help many young women to have the healthy life they deserve.

How The Athlete's Foot is supporting McGrath Foundation

We will donate $5 from every pair of full-priced women's shoes and $2 from every limited edition McGrath Foundation pink socks sold between 18-30th October*. Donations will help the McGrath Foundation reach their goal of funding 250 McGrath Breast Care Nurses by 2025.

*Donation is capped at AUD$75,000. Limited to full price purchases in one transaction of any women's shoes or purchase of the limited edition McGrath Foundation pink socks during the campaign window (18th - 30th October) in-store and online.