Diagnosed in November 2020 at just 33 years old, Tarryn Fowler’s breast cancer journey began with a shocking discovery. She found a lump in her breast while caring for her 2 young children, aged 2.5 years and 18 months.
Despite initially believing she was too young for breast cancer, her intuition urged her to seek medical attention right away.
“I think many people would put off doing something until the new year when health-related resolutions are top of mind but I wanted to find out immediately so I could enjoy the holidays,” she said.
After a tense 10 day wait, Tarryn received her diagnosis: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) and Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS). Her treatment began swiftly, starting with a mastectomy and reconstruction in December 2020. The holiday season that year was a blur, as Tarryn found herself too unwell to join her family in festive activities, like viewing Christmas lights.
Tarryn's treatment continued with chemotherapy and radiation, all while striving to minimise the impact on her children.
"I wanted to finish treatment quickly so they wouldn't remember or have too many questions about what was happening," she said.
Her motivation was clear: the desire to be there for every milestone in her children’s lives.
After completing radiation in May 2021, Tarryn celebrated her final treatment by ringing the Captain’s Bell, a symbol of hope and accomplishment.
“The hardest part wasn’t the pain or losing my hair. It was being unable to hold my kids for 6 weeks post-surgery. Missing out on their laughter while recovering was tough but it made me even more grateful to be here for their future,” she said.
Tarryn is using her experience to raise breast cancer awareness as a community ambassador for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF).
Her commitment to raising awareness is palpable. This year, she’ll once again have her photo displayed on the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the New Year’s Eve fireworks, reaching an estimated half a billion viewers.
NBCF is an ongoing official charity partner of Sydney New Year’s Eve , and this year’s program will see Sydney Harbour lit up for a ‘Pink Moment’ to mark 30 years of the foundation.
Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia and the most prevalent among women, with around 1,000 cases occurring in women under 40 each year—about 3 women every day.
Tarryn remains hopeful for a future with Zero Deaths from breast cancer, a vision that NBCF has worked toward for more than 30 years by funding critical research.
Since its inception in 1994, NBCF has invested more than $200 million into over 600 research projects, contributing to a 40% reduction in breast cancer mortality rates in Australia. The fight is far from over. Nine Australians die from breast cancer each day and one woman under 40 loses her life to the disease each week.
Tarryn’s advocacy and resilience serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of awareness and research in the ongoing battle against breast cancer.
Read more about the National Breast Cancer foundation.
Published 12 December 2024
