Breast Cancer Awareness

Hints and Tips

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer amongst women in Australia.

In 2023, it is predicted that over 3,200 Australians will die from breast cancer (includes 30-40 men).

Its incidence is increasing – with 1 in 7 Australian women and about 1 in 500 Australian men expected to be diagnosed in their lifetime.

Directly – or indirectly – more Australian families are likely to be affected by breast cancer than any other type of cancer.

The disease develops when cells within the breast grow abnormally and multiply to form a tumour. Thanks to medical research, breast cancer that is contained within the breast is now largely treatable. Since the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) started funding research in 1994, the death rates from breast cancer in Australia have reduced by over 40% thanks in large part to research in prevention, early detection and new and improved breast cancer treatments.

It’s progress to be proud of. But the job’s not done. 9 Australians still lose their life to the disease every single day.

Targeted, world-class research is the only way to stop women and men dying from breast cancer. By gaining a better understanding of how breast cancer tumours originate, grow and spread, we can save more lives.

For more info: https://nbcf.org.au/about-breast-cancer/

There are a range of factors that contribute to your chance of developing breast cancer. Some risks can be reduced, while others you might have no control over...

The main one that has rocked our household recently is Family History and Genetics.

My mum attended a routine mammogram where they found something that needed more testing. This had happened a few times before for mum so we weren't worried. But when they did further testing including ultrasounds and biopsies - well we were hit with the C word.

Fast forward (and I mean fast forward cause it was a literal whirlwind of emotions, appointments, specialists, surgeries, treatments, quarantining) 6 months and Mum is on the road to recovery, she's since had major surgery and chemo but we have our Ma safe and well again thanks to the fast acting doctors and specialists.

However, at some point in the whole process, Mum was required to do some genetic testing as there had been more cases of Breast and Ovarian cancer in her family history.

Her genetic testing came back as being positive for the BRCA2 gene mutation. Which then meant that I had a 50/50 chance of inheriting this "special" gene mutation.

BRCA2 is also a ‘cancer protection’ gene that helps to protect against breast, ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancer. If you receive one either from your mother or father that isn’t working, it’s called having a BRCA2 gene mutation.

Women who have a mutated BRCA2 gene have about a 70% chance of developing breast cancer and about a 15% chance of developing ovarian cancer over their lifetime.

Men have about a 15% chance of developing prostate cancer and about a 7% chance of developing breast cancer over their lifetime.

Men and women with a mutated BRCA2 gene have a less than 5% chance of developing pancreatic cancer over their lifetime.

https://www.pinkhope.org.au/your-risk/gene-mutations/genetic-mutation-types

Knowing the best thing to do would be to be tested myself, not just so that I knew what my risks were but so that I was aware, extra vigilant and so that I knew if this was something I could have potentially passed on to my own kids.

And unfortunately, I tested positive to having the BRCA2 mutation.

This meant that my chances of developing Breast Cancer jumped from around 7% to 70%. With some doctors saying it can be as high as 90% - WELP! I wasn't taking any chances, especially as I am someone that suffers massively from anxiety I knew I wouldn't be able to plod on through life with a massive WHAT IF hanging over me. That every single lump and bump and ache would send me into a spiral. I did not want to spend my life worrying over everything.

So at that point we had decided that the best approach was for me to have a preventative bilateral mastectomy.

Yep! Massive hey… essentially an amputation of my breasts so that my chances of developing Breast Cancer in my lifetime drops down to a 2% chance and so that I know that I'll be here as long as possible for my kids.

(Risk graph from - https://iprevent.net.au/) This was gathered after entering a heap of family history information and was custom to me.

I will also at some point down the line need to have a partial/total hysterectomy to avoid any risks of Ovarian Cancer too, but the negatives of early menopause outweigh my risk at the moment. So I get to keep my ovaries for a bit longer - yay for being a girl haha.

But my surgery for the bilateral mastectomy will mean some temporary changes to Cloth Cuts. We WILL NOT be shutting down during my surgery and recovery.

Cloth Cuts will be SLOWING DOWN from July until mid to late September 2024.

We will be staying open and orders will still be sent to the printer, but as I will be on bed rest for a large chunk of it our turn around times will be slower than usual.

Messages may take a little longer to reply to too. But we will get there, just that healing will be the main priority for a period of time.

We appreciate your patience during this time, and if you have any questions about journey or how it will affect your order please send us an email. Our inbox is always open.

It's recommended to do monthly self checks of your breasts. That way you can learn what your breasts feel and look like as well as potentially identify anything that may have changed. Choose the same day each month to check and make a habit of it. Stay ontop of your regular checks as early detection CAN SAVE LIVES.

Mammograms are also available from the age of 40 - while they might not be comfortable do not avoid them and get checked!

Sewing Products

I've put together a little list of some patterns you can sew to gift to people you might know who are going through the difficult journey of cancer.

While we are incredibly lucky to live in Australia and have an amazing bunch of support connections, there is still nothing better than knowing that someone is thinking of you and wants to help where they can.

When my mum was first diagnosed, I jumped at the chance of making her some head wraps for her chemo process, and while her hair has now grown back, she has loved being able to pass them onto women in her community that are beginning the slow and horrible path to recovery.

I also made her the heart shaped pillow and nearly a year later she is still using it daily.

https://www.seamwork.com/articles/bodice-adjustments-for-a-bilateral-mastectomy

https://seekatesew.com/sew4good-heart-pillows-for-breast-cancer/

https://seekatesew.com/sew-4-good-sewing-headwraps-for-cancer-patients/

https://www.ohhhlululingerie.com/2023/05/11/make-your-own-surgical-pillow/

Any of the following prints (and more in the Dear Cancer range) will have all Cloth Cuts profits donated to National Breast Cancer Foundation

If you would like to directly make a donation and not worry about the fabric aspect - please head through to here or head directly to their website and make a personal donation OR grab some epic merchandise here