Bridget’s story:
“ABCpro brings me so much peace of mind”
Our research shows the inability to manage symptoms has the most negative impact on the lives of Kiwis living with advanced breast cancer (ABC). But thanks to our ABCpro telehealth nursing service, designed especially for people with ABC, patients now have the ability to control worrying symptoms that can make life more difficult. Bridget, a mother of two from Tokoroa who was diagnosed with ABC at the age of 47, is one of the women benefiting from ABCpro.
I found a lump in my breast in September 2020. I saw a GP, who referred me for a mammogram and ultrasound. They called me on a Thursday before a long weekend to give me the results and I knew straight away it was bad news.
At first we thought it had been found early. But after doing all the tests, I learnt in December that the cancer was advanced and it had spread to my liver. When you hear the words ‘palliative’ it’s scary. And the fact it was in the liver was the kicker – because just 18 months earlier I’d lost my husband Darrell to liver cancer.
I was one of the first patients to join the ABCpro service and I’ve found it incredibly helpful. Every week, I do an online survey about the symptoms and side effects related to my treatment. If a pattern emerges or a symptom reaches a designated threshold it triggers an alert with a specialist ABC nurse at Waikato Hospital. She’ll give me a call to understand what’s changed and help me to find ways to deal with the symptom.
ABCpro brings me so much peace of mind. There might be something I’m dealing with that I think is insignificant, but they’ll pick up on something I just haven’t thought of.
One time, I was concerned about a very sore arm and was worried the cancer had progressed to my bones. The nurse quickly established this wasn’t the case and helped me to get massages to ease the pain.
It’s wonderful knowing that somebody cares, I’m just not a number that has x amount of years or months. If something does change, I have the support there straight away, I don’t have to wait three months to get an appointment. And not having to worry about every niggle makes such a difference.
Four years on from my diagnosis, I’m back to doing running and walking events and I’m feeling great.
I hope more Kiwis with advanced breast cancer like me will be able to get the chance to use ABCpro. I truly believe it’s improved my life because everyone involved with the programme is interested in keeping me as well as I can be with this awful disease.
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Have you been touched by breast cancer and would like to share your story? We’d love to hear more about it.
