'My first thought was my kids won't remember me': mum's scary diagnosis

The Advertiser

12 hours ago

The hardest thing for Amanda Russell is the thought of leaving her three young children and husband behind.
Amanda, 44, of Murrays Beach, was diagnosed with stage-four breast cancer last month.
"My first thought was my kids won't remember me," she said.
"And my husband Adam and I won't get to grow old together.
"I'm not scared for me, I'm scared for them. My kids will have to grow up without a mum."
Friend Alyssa Blenkey has started a GoFundMe, titled "Help Amanda Fight for More Time With Her Babies".
"Amanda is a dedicated mum and paramedic who's always put others first. Now she needs our help," Alyssa said.
She says Amanda is a "vibrant, strong and witty woman" with a big heart.
"Despite everything, Amanda remains determined to fight and soak up every hug, bedtime story and messy breakfast."
Her breast cancer diagnosis didn't come in the standard way.
"I didn't have a lump in my breast. It was discovered because I had hip pain," she said.
"I was diagnosed with bone metastases. Being a paramedic, I knew straight away what that meant."
The devastating diagnosis has changed her priorities.
"If I can't do all the things I imagined for the rest of my life, I have to ask myself what are the most important things from now."
Curtis, Hayden and Ruby are aged 10, nine and six.
"I want to make as many core memories with them as I can, especially with my six-year-old because she's so young," she said.
Amanda and Adam are both paramedics.
"They have spent their lives caring for others, showing up in people's darkest moments with strength and compassion," Alyssa said.
They are both off work as Adam is having knee surgery.
Amanda left NSW Ambulance after 21 years because she developed PTSD.
"I work in the private sector now as a paramedic," she said.
"At the moment, I can't work as I have a fracture in my spine."
She dreamed of being a paramedic since high school and started in the role at age 21.
"I loved my career. I was devastated when I had to leave," she said.
"It was a very rewarding job, but it's also very difficult."
Her cancer treatment has consisted of endocrine therapy with hormone blockers.
Breast surgery isn't suitable, as the cancer has spread too far.
"I've just had a hysterectomy. That's to stop the oestrogen, which is making the cancer grow."
Amanda sought to highlight that free mammograms through BreastScreen NSW are aimed at women over 50.
"You can now get a mammogram free from age 40, but they won't invite you to have one until you're 50," she said.
BreastScreen NSW states that women in their 40s "are eligible and welcome" to get free mammograms.
Indigenous people are "recommended to do a breast screen from age 40".
"More than 75 per cent of breast cancers are found in women aged over 50."
Amanda was previously told by a doctor that she was "too young to have a mammogram".
"Had I had one at 40, would that have made a difference? I'll never know," she said.
"There needs to be more education that mammograms are free from age 40."
The hardest thing for Amanda Russell is the thought of leaving her three young children and husband behind.
Amanda, 44, of Murrays Beach, was diagnosed with stage-four breast cancer last month.
"My first thought was my kids won't remember me," she said.
"And my husband Adam and I won't get to grow old together.
"I'm not scared for me, I'm scared for them. My kids will have to grow up without a mum."
Friend Alyssa Blenkey has started a GoFundMe, titled "Help Amanda Fight for More Time With Her Babies".
"Amanda is a dedicated mum and paramedic who's always put others first. Now she needs our help," Alyssa said.
She says Amanda is a "vibrant, strong and witty woman" with a big heart.
"Despite everything, Amanda remains determined to fight and soak up every hug, bedtime story and messy breakfast."
Her breast cancer diagnosis didn't come in the standard way.
"I didn't have a lump in my breast. It was discovered because I had hip pain," she said.
"I was diagnosed with bone metastases. Being a paramedic, I knew straight away what that meant."
The devastating diagnosis has changed her priorities.
"If I can't do all the things I imagined for the rest of my life, I have to ask myself what are the most important things from now."
Curtis, Hayden and Ruby are aged 10, nine and six.
"I want to make as many core memories with them as I can, especially with my six-year-old because she's so young," she said.
Amanda and Adam are both paramedics.
"They have spent their lives caring for others, showing up in people's darkest moments with strength and compassion," Alyssa said.
They are both off work as Adam is having knee surgery.
Amanda left NSW Ambulance after 21 years because she developed PTSD.
"I work in the private sector now as a paramedic," she said.
"At the moment, I can't work as I have a fracture in my spine."
She dreamed of being a paramedic since high school and started in the role at age 21.
"I loved my career. I was devastated when I had to leave," she said.
"It was a very rewarding job, but it's also very difficult."
Her cancer treatment has consisted of endocrine therapy with hormone blockers.
Breast surgery isn't suitable, as the cancer has spread too far.
"I've just had a hysterectomy. That's to stop the oestrogen, which is making the cancer grow."
Amanda sought to highlight that free mammograms through BreastScreen NSW are aimed at women over 50.
"You can now get a mammogram free from age 40, but they won't invite you to have one until you're 50," she said.
BreastScreen NSW states that women in their 40s "are eligible and welcome" to get free mammograms.
Indigenous people are "recommended to do a breast screen from age 40".
"More than 75 per cent of breast cancers are found in women aged over 50."
Amanda was previously told by a doctor that she was "too young to have a mammogram".
"Had I had one at 40, would that have made a difference? I'll never know," she said.
"There needs to be more education that mammograms are free from age 40."
The hardest thing for Amanda Russell is the thought of leaving her three young children and husband behind.
Amanda, 44, of Murrays Beach, was diagnosed with stage-four breast cancer last month.
"My first thought was my kids won't remember me," she said.
"And my husband Adam and I won't get to grow old together.
"I'm not scared for me, I'm scared for them. My kids will have to grow up without a mum."
Friend Alyssa Blenkey has started a GoFundMe, titled "Help Amanda Fight for More Time With Her Babies".
"Amanda is a dedicated mum and paramedic who's always put others first. Now she needs our help," Alyssa said.
She says Amanda is a "vibrant, strong and witty woman" with a big heart.
"Despite everything, Amanda remains determined to fight and soak up every hug, bedtime story and messy breakfast."
Her breast cancer diagnosis didn't come in the standard way.
"I didn't have a lump in my breast. It was discovered because I had hip pain," she said.
"I was diagnosed with bone metastases. Being a paramedic, I knew straight away what that meant."
The devastating diagnosis has changed her priorities.
"If I can't do all the things I imagined for the rest of my life, I have to ask myself what are the most important things from now."
Curtis, Hayden and Ruby are aged 10, nine and six.
"I want to make as many core memories with them as I can, especially with my six-year-old because she's so young," she said.
Amanda and Adam are both paramedics.
"They have spent their lives caring for others, showing up in people's darkest moments with strength and compassion," Alyssa said.
They are both off work as Adam is having knee surgery.
Amanda left NSW Ambulance after 21 years because she developed PTSD.
"I work in the private sector now as a paramedic," she said.
"At the moment, I can't work as I have a fracture in my spine."
She dreamed of being a paramedic since high school and started in the role at age 21.
"I loved my career. I was devastated when I had to leave," she said.
"It was a very rewarding job, but it's also very difficult."
Her cancer treatment has consisted of endocrine therapy with hormone blockers.
Breast surgery isn't suitable, as the cancer has spread too far.
"I've just had a hysterectomy. That's to stop the oestrogen, which is making the cancer grow."
Amanda sought to highlight that free mammograms through BreastScreen NSW are aimed at women over 50.
"You can now get a mammogram free from age 40, but they won't invite you to have one until you're 50," she said.
BreastScreen NSW states that women in their 40s "are eligible and welcome" to get free mammograms.
Indigenous people are "recommended to do a breast screen from age 40".
"More than 75 per cent of breast cancers are found in women aged over 50."
Amanda was previously told by a doctor that she was "too young to have a mammogram".
"Had I had one at 40, would that have made a difference? I'll never know," she said.
"There needs to be more education that mammograms are free from age 40."
The hardest thing for Amanda Russell is the thought of leaving her three young children and husband behind.
Amanda, 44, of Murrays Beach, was diagnosed with stage-four breast cancer last month.
"My first thought was my kids won't remember me," she said.
"And my husband Adam and I won't get to grow old together.
"I'm not scared for me, I'm scared for them. My kids will have to grow up without a mum."
Friend Alyssa Blenkey has started a GoFundMe, titled "Help Amanda Fight for More Time With Her Babies".
"Amanda is a dedicated mum and paramedic who's always put others first. Now she needs our help," Alyssa said.
She says Amanda is a "vibrant, strong and witty woman" with a big heart.
"Despite everything, Amanda remains determined to fight and soak up every hug, bedtime story and messy breakfast."
Her breast cancer diagnosis didn't come in the standard way.
"I didn't have a lump in my breast. It was discovered because I had hip pain," she said.
"I was diagnosed with bone metastases. Being a paramedic, I knew straight away what that meant."
The devastating diagnosis has changed her priorities.
"If I can't do all the things I imagined for the rest of my life, I have to ask myself what are the most important things from now."
Curtis, Hayden and Ruby are aged 10, nine and six.
"I want to make as many core memories with them as I can, especially with my six-year-old because she's so young," she said.
Amanda and Adam are both paramedics.
"They have spent their lives caring for others, showing up in people's darkest moments with strength and compassion," Alyssa said.
They are both off work as Adam is having knee surgery.
Amanda left NSW Ambulance after 21 years because she developed PTSD.
"I work in the private sector now as a paramedic," she said.
"At the moment, I can't work as I have a fracture in my spine."
She dreamed of being a paramedic since high school and started in the role at age 21.
"I loved my career. I was devastated when I had to leave," she said.
"It was a very rewarding job, but it's also very difficult."
Her cancer treatment has consisted of endocrine therapy with hormone blockers.
Breast surgery isn't suitable, as the cancer has spread too far.
"I've just had a hysterectomy. That's to stop the oestrogen, which is making the cancer grow."
Amanda sought to highlight that free mammograms through BreastScreen NSW are aimed at women over 50.
"You can now get a mammogram free from age 40, but they won't invite you to have one until you're 50," she said.
BreastScreen NSW states that women in their 40s "are eligible and welcome" to get free mammograms.
Indigenous people are "recommended to do a breast screen from age 40".
"More than 75 per cent of breast cancers are found in women aged over 50."
Amanda was previously told by a doctor that she was "too young to have a mammogram".
"Had I had one at 40, would that have made a difference? I'll never know," she said.
"There needs to be more education that mammograms are free from age 40."