Charlotte Varcoe
“WHEN you are diagnosed with breast cancer, your feet do not hit the ground,” Mount Gambier/Berrin resident Michelle Riley told The Border Watch.
Ms Riley was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2020 and had since received 17 cycles of chemotherapy, 25 cycles of radiotherapy while spending 59 nights away from home in Warrnambool and travelling via plane to Adelaide about four times within four months for medical appointments and surgeries.
These are the reasons Ms Riley will be part of the Radiation Treatment for the Limestone Coast panel tonight.
Five experienced panelists from different areas of expertise will speak to community members tonight, Tuesday July 25, at the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre, about the ongoing fight to have radiation therapy implemented in Mount Gambier/Berrin.
It comes following the announcement of the reallocation of $4.3m which was originally planned for radiation treatment in Mount Gambier/Berrin, yet will now fund further chemotherapy unit upgrades.
Ms Riley will be among those panellists, aiming to provide a personal experience of what it was like living away from home in order to receive life-altering treatment.
“I had four aggressive chemotherapy cycles which made me extremely unwell and then I went and had lumpectomy surgery in January 2021,” Ms Riley said.
“I came back and because of the type of cancer I had, I needed a further 17 cycles of chemotherapy immunotherapy which was in March 2021 then had 25 cycles of radiotherapy.”
She said from September 2020 through to May 2022 it was all about having basic treatments, surgeries, tests and radiation therapy.
“I was extremely unwell and it was just myself and my partner,” she said.
“I also had a suspended licence due to medical reasons so I had to catch the bus for appointments in Warrnambool with the radio oncologist.
“The first appointment I had, I had to catch the bus on my own and could not come back to Mount Gambier until the next day because of the timetable of the buses.”
Ms Riley said it was a week after this initial appointment she had to travel back to Warrnambool for what was supposed to be 27 days.
Those 27 days soon turned into 59 nights due to complications.
“We were away from home and this was also during the Covid-19 pandemic so I was also advised by my radio oncology team not to travel back to Mount Gambier on the weekend because going on the bus with Covid-19 around was dangerous,” she said.
“The Victorian-South Australian border was also unstable at that time and if Victoria went into lockdown, it would mean I would not be able to get back across the border for my treatment without hassles.”
Ms Riley acknowledged her case was different to the everyday cases due to it happening at the peak of the pandemic, yet reiterated it took its toll.
“When you are diagnosed with breast cancer your feet don’t touch the ground and within a week I had appointments in Adelaide that could not be done here,” she said.
“Because of how time sensitive breast cancer is, I flew to Adelaide and back about four times between September and February for tests that cannot be done here as well as surgery.
“It all takes an extra toll because it is not home, you are not surrounded by familiarity or your creature comforts or family.”
Ms Riley also acknowledged the work of the Mount Gambier Cancer Support Group, including Lorraine Musgrove who will also be a panellist.
“I was introduced to Lorraine through my breast cancer team at the Mount Gambier and District Hospital and the Mount Gambier Cancer Support Group who helped us financially,” she said.
“They got in touch with support people in Warrnambool which gave us access to food and things like that.”
She said her story and experience was the main reason behind joining the right for radiation therapy services in Mount Gambier/Berrin and while continuing to feel “frustrated and disgusted” at the reallocation of the initial $4.3m, she hoped the forum would help the community remain informed and give the opportunity to ask questions.
“This is not just for Mount Gambier, it is also for the entire Limestone Coast and the State Government has decided this is not something that is necessary,” Ms Riley said.
Ms Musgrove also encouraged the community to attend the event, stating she looked forward to whether the State Government could provide the finance for the service or not.
“Being away from family and also having the financial burden that this puts on people while they are away is a lot,” Ms Musgrove said.
“We are hoping to bring that to light and so we are asking the community so they can come along and support it.
“The forum will allow people to ask questions they want to know in regards to having the therapy unit here and there will be a panel of radiation representatives here to provide those answers.”
She said she was hopeful the community would think and come and listen to the panel with many not understanding radiotherapy units and what was involved as well as how it could help those in need.
“I will be on the panel because I am involved with the Mount Gambier Cancer Support Group and we support clients who need to go away for treatment,” she said.
The event will be held tonight, Tuesday 25, at the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre from 5.30pm onwards.
