We always knew cancer was “common”, especially breast cancer; however, it wasn’t until March of 2014 when our mum was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer that we personally felt the effects of this disease. We don’t have any history of cancer in our family so it seemed like it just came out of nowhere! Mum’s cancer was detected through a routine mammogram. The tumor they found was the size of a tennis ball and sadly the cancer had already spread to her lymph nodes. One week after the diagnosis our mum had a total mastectomy as well as the removal of her axillary lymph nodes…And just like that our lives changed forever!
Most people know someone who has been affected by cancer; and now all of a sudden we realized that this bad dream was happening to us. Having heard so many horror stories, and seen so many movies related to this disease we couldn’t help but worry about the worst-case scenario, but of course we hoped and prayed for the best possible outcome. We wanted to know everything about mum’s treatment including the side effects and the process she would have to go through. We were googling about which diets would help her and where the best treatment options are located etc… Our whole family came together during this process and funnily enough today we are a much closer unit because of it…there is always a silver lining hey!!!
Mum wanted to have her treatment in Melbourne so we flew home to Australia every few months to keep an eye on things. One of the saddest days of our lives was when we had to go wig shopping. We were so scared and felt so helpless; however, we needn’t have worried, the ladies at the wig store were so wonderful and all of them were volunteers. The store was run by a cancer charity, when mum snuck away to try on some wigs one of the ladies wrote down a link to another charity that helped those who care for cancer patients. The lady asked us how our dad was doing, and how mum’s mum was doing? She wanted to let us know that there was counseling available and that we weren’t alone. We remember thinking at that moment how lucky we were to have met these ladies and that these types of charitable organizations exist to assist us in our time of need.
18 months on and mum is doing great. Her hair is growing back, she has cut down her workload, and slowly getting through her bucket list. She has booked some amazing trips around the world (she is currently in Iran with her best friends!), and she also came on tour with us this summer across Europe. We all hold our breath when she goes into the clinic for her check ups but we know she is getting great treatment.
Our lives are now all slowly getting back to normal. However, for some people it isn’t so easy. Perhaps their loved ones did not catch the cancer in time for them get better, or they didn’t have access to the organizations or treatment to help them through the process.
We feel an obligation to help which is why this October we are launching our own awareness campaign titled TITTIES TITTIES YEAH (#TTY) to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We will be wearing our Pink SOL REPUBLIC headphones to raise awareness, partnering with Electric Family to sell custom NERVO bracelets, and also posting prevention and early detection information across our social media channels. We will also be teaming up with Fuck Cancer and hosting some parties where all of the proceeds will go towards funding mammograms and providing free breast cancer screenings.
Let’s celebrate the silver linings together so please join us for our first TITTIES TITTIES YEAH party on November 19th in Toronto at Maison Mercer.
For more information visit www.letsfcancer.com.
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