Cheryl Marland said going through her cancer battle was “a breeze.”
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
However that in no way negates the strength required to undergo chemotherapy and radiation, as well as loosing a part of her body.
That strength of character is clear when the Lake Cargelligo local says, “I went through everything really easily. I got Golden Staff along the way, but it all ended up OK.”
Mrs Marland was diagnosed with breast cancer in October, 2016.
A stickler for having her mammogram every 12 months, she attributes this trip and early diagnoses as to her relatively “easy” time with battling the disease.
She started her treatments with chemotherapy and radiation, with her courses all finished by March 9, 2018.
Loosing a boob didn’t bother me. I wanted them to take the other one too but they wouldn't have a bar of it. It doesn’t bother me now, as long as everything is gone and stays that way.
- Cheryl Marland
Taking everything in her stride seemed to come naturally for her, but it may not have been taken so easily by her family.
“It was a shock to them. But it wasn't a shock to me.
“It shocked my hubby. When I went for the mammogram and ultrasounds, normally you get dressed after it, and when I had to go back in and didn’t get dressed, that’s when I knew there was something wrong.
“What can you do? You have to just be strong.”
As one of a group of women going through breast cancer during a similar time period, her strength in dealing with the emotional and physical trauma stood and stands as an encouragement to others. After the marriage of her grandson last month, Mrs Marland said it definitely made her think, “what if.”
RELATED:
“I just thought, and when you are first diagnosed, you think, are you going to see your grandson married? But it has all worked out.”
Having the Griffith-based McGrath breast cancer nurse Fiona Shields made the experience not only bearable, but “a breeze.”
“Fiona was there for everything – I went for my treatment she would be there for me, my trips to the oncologist she would be there through it all.
“She still rings and checks. She played a huge part in my journey. She was very, very good.”
Pink Up Griffith’s fundraising efforts for the McGrath Foundation will be supporting Ms Shields, and Mrs Marland says this is a great chance for the community to give back to someone who has helped her through a life struggle.
***
While you're with us, did you know that you can now receive updates straight to your inbox every Monday at 6am from The Area News? To make sure you're up to date with all the Griffith and MIA news you can sign up here.
