Further scans showed the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes and spine.
“My diagnosis is Stage 4, Grade 3 oligometastatic triple-positive breast cancer with a single metastasis in my L4 vertebra,” Ms Clarke said.
Thankfully, she says, she only had to travel to Melbourne once for a spinal biopsy in the diagnostic stage; however, she must travel to Bendigo every three months for regular PET scans.
Still, one of the things the 37-year-old mum of twin 13-year-old boys appreciates most, is that the majority of her treatment and appointments have been local.
“When you're dealing with cancer, the treatment itself is exhausting enough,” Ms Clarke said.
“Having to travel long distances regularly for appointments and treatment would add another layer of stress, fatigue, time away from family, and financial pressure.”
Before every PET scan in Bendigo, she takes medication to calm her through the daunting experience.
“It’s a big white room; big white machine,” she said.
“The person sets you up and then walks away and you’re just there in silence with the machine noise for half an hour, deep in your thoughts when you’re sitting there, you’re just like, wow, this is my life.”
Ms Clarke said she was grateful to have never had to attend any treatment appointment alone.
“I’ve been incredibly fortunate ... my husband and two children, and my mum, who lives in Tatura, family, friends, colleagues and a wider community that have all played a part in helping me through,” she said.
“There’s always been someone beside me.”
Ms Clarke underwent six cycles of docetaxel chemotherapy, which were completed around a year ago.
She continues to receive targeted therapy at GV Health every three weeks, indefinitely.
Thanks to an understanding workplace that has allowed her to set up a desk at and work from her home in Kialla, she has been able to reduce her hours and retain her quality resource administrative role.
“Throughout the chemo I did four four-hour days, which was manageable,” Ms Clarke said.
“I couldn’t do an eight-hour day at the desk.
“If I have to go through chemo again, I don’t know, I reckon I could work from home, but I don’t know what life would have looked like if I had to spend a lot of time in Melbourne.”
She says, even with her current treatment, she gets a fatigue that “coffee doesn’t fix”.
A 30- to 60-minute nap during the day to get through the rest of it has become her norm.
If she’d needed to have treatment outside of Shepparton — like many local cancer patients are required to — she doesn’t think she would have been able to maintain a work, life and treatment balance, and as a result working would not have been possible.
“That’s when it would become a financial burden, because that’s my wage gone,” Ms Clarke said.
While Ms Clarke’s cancer is incurable, it’s manageable.
She’s been told by her medical team that it’s treated more like a chronic disease, such as asthma or diabetes, rather than a terminal illness.
There are several treatment pathways available to her should the disease mutate and return, but for now, she’s in a safe zone.
“Today, I am no signs evident, no signs of active disease, so the treatment’s working,” she said.
“Cancer has changed my life.
“I know first hand how important it is to have access to high-quality cancer care close to home.”
Being able to receive treatment locally has given Ms Clarke more time to spend with family, maintain a level of normality and focus her energy on treatment and recovery, rather than travel.
“That’s why continued investment in local oncology services is so important,” she said.
“My hope is that future patients will be able to receive the same exceptional care close to home.
“It improves not only their access to care, but also their quality of life during one of the most challenging times they will ever face.”
The GV Health Foundation is calling on individuals, businesses and community groups to donate to its $5 million I Care for Cancer Care @ GV Health fundraising appeal to help bring first-class cancer care to the Goulburn Valley.
Donations can be made via the foundation’s website.
Community members interested in the various opportunities to contribute to and support the appeal can contact Amy De Paola via email at amy.depaola@gvhealth.org.au
