By Violet Li
Cranbourne North resident Tracey Ryan has just had her 60-year-old birthday in October and she has been in more than a decade’s battle with stage four breast cancer.
She was diagnosed in February 2010 and had her left lung removed five years ago due to a new primary lung cancer.
On top of that, she’s now been diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) where her pain level is greater than expected and even water touching her skin could make her cry.
Trudging into the second decade of her survival battle, Tracey has stayed tough, trying to do everything she can, but everything takes a lot longer these days.
“I’m struggling a lot. I need a walking stick now every day, and I’ve got a wheelchair for my really bad days,” she said.
“Once you hit stage four, you will always be in stage four. They can keep you comfortable, but there is no way you can be cured.
“It is part of my life every single day. It is always in the back of my mind when I wake up in the morning.”
Families keep Tracey happy and get her through.
“They go above and beyond and tried to make me comfortable,” she said.
She said it was hard for her family to process everything.
Having two grandsons aged five and eight, Tracey recalled the five-year-old kid sat on her lap the other week giving her big cuddles and the eight-year-old told his younger brother to be careful because grandma was sick.
“And he turned around to me and he said grandma when you die, I won’t be able to sit on your own lap and get cuddles anymore, will I?” she said.
“He looked at me and he’s got tears in his eyes and he said but I’ve got your hope and your love in my heart, haven’t I?
“And I just said to him you remember grandma will be looking down on you and looking after you when you need grandma.”
Tracey had to go to the toilet, have a cry, wipe her eyes, and pull herself together after the conversation.
Following her diagnosis, Tracey has been actively engaged with charity work to promote breast cancer awareness.
She is a speaker for the National Breast Cancer Foundation and non-profit organisation Pink Hope.
Tracey and her friend have been involved in a charity called Young Pink Sisters and they pay up to $600 medical bills of young women diagnosed with breast cancer.
Tracey said she wanted more people to be aware breast cancers can hit anyone at any age.
“Men, women, children can get breast cancer. And doctors unfortunately put you in a little box saying you are too young to get breast cancer,” she said.
“And I just keep telling people if you’re not happy with your doctor, you can get a second opinion or a third opinion. Just keep pushing until someone actually listens to you.”
Tracey first found out her cancer when she was at the hospital with her son.
She felt pain in her breast and there was a big lump.
“I thought it was stress. It wasn’t. It was cancer,” she said.
She’s strongly encouraging people to get a test done on their lumps before things go sour.
Tracey wants to send a message to people in her shoes.
“Just live your life to the best you can,” she said.
“And for people who aren’t sick, don’t wait to get sick to enjoy your life.”
