The 10,000 Italian Roses Project is something that not many Griffith residents have heard of, but it’s certainly something that Griffith City Library intends to voice loud.
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The Project is in recognition of the 10,006 NSW women of Italian background between the ages of 50 and 74 who have never had a mammogram.
These startling figures were released by BreastScreen NSW and it’s now led to a campaign by NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service and Griffith City Library to encourage local madri, sie, e nonne – in fact all women – to come forward and have regular mammograms.
The Area News spoke to Lisa Taliano and Frances Franco, who discovered they had breast cancer after having mammograms.
And, while BreastScreen NSW offers free mammograms for women between the ages 50 and 74, Ms Taliano and Ms Franco both suggest having screenings earlier.
Ms Franco was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 47.
“If I had waited for when I turned 50, I really don’t think that I would be here today,” Ms Franco said.
“I had to have a core biopsy which revealed I had cancer.
“I felt really scared to the point I felt sick in the stomach.”
Ms Franco underwent various tests; blood tests, and scans before a lumpectomy was performed.
She was diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer, and went through eight rounds of chemo, six weeks of radiation therapy, one year of Herceptin, will be on her fifth year of Tamoxifen, and will soon undergo five years of Arimidex drug treatment.
“My hair started to fall out after my first round of chemo,” Ms Franco said.
“I had people say to me that I was brave – I was never brave.”
Ms Franco and Ms Taliano explain that everyone’s breast cancer journey is different.
“It went from lumpectomy to mastectomy to oophorectomy to hysterectomy – and then I’m on hormonal treatment,” Ms Taliano said.
“That’s my cancer journey.”
“I didn’t have chemo or radiation, but I had a lot of operations.”
The thought of having a mammogram can scare some women, but both Ms Franco and Ms Taliano say that it isn’t scary, and that women should get it done as soon as possible.
Ms Taliano’s breast cancer was detected early with a mammogram.
“I turned 50, and I would not have known I had breast cancer,” Ms Taliano said.
“You need to do follow-ups as well.”
BreastScreen NSW have revealed that approximately nine out of 10 women who develop breast cancer do not have a history of breast cancer in the family.
However, they do note that if you have more than one family member on the same side diagnosed with breast cancer; when they are more closely related to you and under the age of 50 when first diagnosed; if you have male relatives diagnosed with breast cancer; or relatives who have breast cancer in both breasts – or have ovarian cancer, in these instances family history is important.
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Both Ms Franco and Ms Taliano say that they have become stronger since their diagnoses.
“You become stronger in yourself,” Ms Franco said.
“Things that you used to let get you down
Griffith City Library is planning a morning tea on Thursday May 31 at 10am for Griffith residents to find out more about the project.
Griffith City Library Manager Karen Tagliapietra welcomes all to the morning tea, where guests will hear from McGrath Foundation Nurse Fiona Shields, and two local breast cancer survivors.
“The aim is to raise awareness and help people understand the importance of breast screening and help spread a message that could save the lives of our friends and family,” Ms Tagliapietra said.
Italian treats and desserts will be donated by Bertoldo’s Bakery, Broomes Fruit and Vegetables, La Piccola Grosseria, and Josie’s Pizza and Pasta for the morning tea.
There will also be a display of 700 roses at the Griffith City Library for the event.
If you are between the ages of 50 and 74 years old, you can have a free mammogram with BreastScreen NSW by calling 13 20 50.