Margie's Story

I never stopped to think to go to a hospital for a mammogram. I always thought you had to go to one of those vans that they have around; but I couldn’t go because I always had the kids with me.  Rachel was 15 and Cassie was 10.

Rachel’s teacher had been diagnosed with breast cancer and as I regularly cleaned her house, she told me all the details (and I mean all) of what she was going through. After that I really thought that someday I would have breast cancer – don’t know why – just a feeling I had.

She died from Breast Cancer 10 years ago this year.

I went to one of the vans at Leichhardt on the 3rd October 2001, when I finally found a day without the kids. Then a few weeks later I received a phone call when I was at school in the playground. I couldn’t hear the lady so she said she would send me a letter. They said there was something showing on the scan and I was to go to the RPA to check it out and have an ultra sound scan.

I didn’t tell anyone as there was nothing to tell as yet.

So I went on the 7th November at 10.15am. The nurse said I needed a fine needle biopsy and the doctor won’t be in till the afternoon at about 2pm.  So I had to go sit in the car (parked in front of a brick wall) for about 3 hours by myself till my appointment. I then had to tell mum as they would have to pick the girls up from school.

I had the biopsy and then I went to see Dr Hugh Carmalt at Strathfield Breast Clinic on the 12th November 2001. He told me I had a lump about 20mm growing in (not out) and that there was a new thing I could try. It was at the Nuclear Medicine Centre in Burwood where they would put  a dye in me to pin point the exact spot where the cancer was and what lymph nodes were affected. I went the next day at 3pm and got home about 6pm.It was quite straight forward.

My neighbour, Carol took me to Strathfield Private Hospital at 7am the next day. Everything moved so fast. I had the operation and the doctor actually rang David after the operation to say it went okay. Carol came to see me the next day and as I had the all clear – I booked myself out.

Then came the chemo - 3 months of chemo at Concord Hospital. I don’t think I was as bad as some other people as I only had a drip and others were using a machine – it looked worse than mine.

After the first chemo, which Carol came to, we were walking up the path and I said “aren’t I meant to be sick by now” (as you hear stories about being sick from the chemo). I was never sick from the chemo.

The next treatment was to be around January and I said to the nurse “sorry I can’t come that day”. She had a horrified look on her face and said “why not?” I said “sorry but I am going away on holidays”.  So I had the treatment the day before I went and then drove for 5 hours the next day to Port Macquarie. I must admit I was a bit tired and didn’t do much those holiday’s.

You can’t let the cancer beat you – you have to do your everyday things and don’t change to suit the “cancer”. Life goes on!!

When I came back I had the rest of the treatments. Then came the radiation. They said “Can you come about 3pm?” I said “no, I can come about 4pm as I have to pick up the girls from school first”. Nothing was going to change. I did it the way I wanted to do it – not what they wanted. I still went to work each day and did all the “kids things”, then I would go to radiation and then go home and rest.

David read all the pamphlets and books and kept up to date with everything. Carol came to most of my appointments with me.

Then one day I was having my first mammogram after the surgery and I was sitting by myself and suddenly I realised I was by myself and thought what if something is wrong with the scan – that is the only time that I got a bit worried and you start to think of all the bad things that could happen.

Everything was fine and I am now 10 years free from cancer!!!!!!

You never know what is lurking inside of you and you must get everything – even the smallest of things checked out by a doctor.

MY GREATEST FEAR was losing my hair. As I spent most of my time at school (I was there so much the teachers joked and said I should be put on the payroll) I was worried about someone coming and pulling my hat off, and seeing my bald head in front of everyone.

MY GREATEST REGRET was that I couldn’t go to Cassie’s school formal, as I couldn’t be in the kitchen cooking anything for fear of losing some hair in the food – I had been looking forward to it so much!! Only 2 people at the school knew I had cancer – My friend Trudy and Cassie’s teacher – Miss Chiddy. So for me not to at the school formal was very unusual and people started to ask questions. I sat in the car in the car park while the formal was on – it was the most difficult time for me. Trudy was my “front man” and she smoothed the way with anyone who asked questions. 

I was approached by the Principal, Mr Stuart Anderson – and he asked me if he could mention “me and my cancer” to the school assembly. As all the kids knew who I was, he wanted them to know about me and he said it would be a good idea to explain to the kids that not everyone dies from cancer.

Now the secret was out – things were much easier from then on as everyone then knew.

The most important thing is not to stress. Okay you have been diagnosed with a potentially life threatening problem – so do everything you can to fix it!! All I can say is you have to stay positive and get on with things and hopefully for most people things will turn out okay!

We had a “Margie’s Pink Survivor Party” with family and friends on the 13th November 2011 to celebrate being 10 years Cancer Free! It was a great day and most people dressed up in something “Pink”. My two daughters and some friends went and bought T-Shirts and painted different quotes on them. We had a “boob” donation box and we put up the “Lynne King” story above it for people to read. We also had a “boob” piñata which was very well made and extremely hard to break – it was a lot of fun and everyone joined in.

I would like to thank my family and friends for helping me get this far!!.

My niece Lisa is associated with the Lynne King Foundation so we decided to donate to them. We raised $628 for the Lynne King Cancer Care Foundation which was a good effort.

It was a pleasure to be able to donate to such a worthy cause and I look forward to helping Mr King and the foundation out with any functions etc. that they may have in the future.

Let’s hope we will still be celebrating and donating in another 10 years!!!

Margaret Hodkinson.

If you would like to organise your own fundraiser just like Margaret did, please contact us for further information. We welcome all your support - well done Margie!