First Peoples: Worry about cancer coming back

Aunty Pam I would be thinking do you think that cancer will come back and that's what I have thought until the breast cancer come back and my surgeon has said no you know why because we've got it right at the beginning but then again it's still on my mind 

Andrea I'm surrounded by cancer patients in my job so I see some of the you know the most confronting things around and I do worry that that will be me and I did have genetic testing that shows that I'm more likely to get another breast cancer so I am always that's always in the back of my mind 

Leon One of the doctors I've seen she said to me, "oh you know you're clearing your breast," she said, "but that doesn't mean to say you can't get it in some other part of your body." 

I said, "Oh gee, you know that's all I need to know you know," and when I went home I it sort of drew sort of upset me a little bit because I thought oh gee this is all I need you know I’ve been cleared here but the rest of my body is it gonna am I get gonna get another cancer

Aunty Dot I was struggling a bit and not sure you know just during those early stages

Erica you don't think about it you keep moving because that's what life is you just move on and do the best you can

Andrea I try to just bring myself back to earth and say well hang on look you know that there's a risk but you do get your check every year if I ever think that there's something wrong I don't hesitate to go to the doctor and just and just get checked out whereas beforehand sort of like oh you're making this up yeah you feel lumpy but it's probably nothing turns out it was something so yeah listen to yourself listen to your own body if you think something's not right then definitely go and get checked

Marilyn I’m glad I did go because it made me realize that I had a chance and something to fight for and I had the support that could help me get through being an aboriginal lady you know like 

Leon It is hard when you're told you know but it's good to think positive you know and take away that negativity.