Marathon IS NO ORDINARY RUN FOR DRYSDALE LOCAL

Most people who sign up for a marathon as high-profile as Run Melbourne consider themselves fit enough to keep up the momentum until the finish line.

For Drysdale nanny Chloe Reeves,running in a marathon is one of two firsts.

The second is speaking publicly about the BRCA2 (breast cancer gene) she was found positive for five years ago, which has seen her take on new challenges.

According to Cancer Australia, women who carry a fault in BRCA1 or BRCA2 have a high lifetime risk of breast cancer –
estimated to be in the range of 30-60 per cent – and a lifetime ovarian cancer risk of about 20 per cent.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations are the most common gene faults associated with breast and ovarian cancers.

Chloe says her family history of breast cancer spans across generations.

“My great grandma had it, nanna had breast cancer as well. My mother had breast cancer, and she was tested for the gene as well. Three of my aunties had the gene so I was tested when I was 19 through the Peter MacCallum Foundation.

I was found positive for the BRCA2 gene,” says Chloe, 24, who grew up in Point Lonsdale.

“What that means for me and whoever is positive for that gene is that you have to be super cautious and get lots of checkups. It’s going to be ongoing for the rest of my life.”

When Chloe’s mum was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, Chloe decided she wanted to know if she was a carrier.

“It was just before I got tested that she (Chloe’s mum) was diagnosed. She had a double mastectomy and a year and half later she had a hysterectomy to lower her risk of cancer,” she says.

“I wanted to know sooner rather than later so I could know what my options are and to be as careful as I can be, and if I didn’t get tested, it would always be on my mind the unknown.”

A year after learning she was positive for the BRCA2 gene, Chloe discovered a lump on her breast when she was living abroad in London.

Luckily for Chloe, she had uncovered a “mouse lump” which in medical terms is known as a fibroadenomas, a common benign breast condition.

“That was quite scary. I was only 20 at the time,” she remembers.

Although Chloe lives with the burden of knowing she’s at risk of developing breast cancer, the bright young woman credits her optimism to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation.

Having visited the cancer centre at least once a year since she was first told of her BRCA2 gene, Chloe says the support she’s
received from specialists, doctors and staff has helped to ease her anxieties.

“I feel very grateful that I have the support of Peter Mac,” she says.

“For me, knowledge is power. The more information I have about this gene mutation, it means I can make more informed decisions about my health.”

In a bid to give back to the foundation helping Chloe limit her chances of becoming a diagnosed patient, the rookie runner is participating in this year’s Run Melbourne to fundraise for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation.

Chloe believes the more people who donate to the foundation, the more people Peter Mac can help.

“This is the first time I’m talking about this publicly… apart from my family and a few friends, I have never spoken about it,” Chloe admits.

“But I feel now is the time and this run is the perfect way to let people know; and not to sound too cheesy, but hopefully inspire others to share their stories.”

A 2018 report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found screen-detected breast and cervical cancers were less likely to cause death than non-screen-detected cancers.

Participation rates indicated 53.8 per cent of Victorians engaged in testing with BreastScreen Australia, while 57.8 per cent participated in the National Cervical Screening Program.

Chloe says although she believes awareness around the importance of screen tests among women is increasing, more conversations about cancer need to occur.

“Mammograms and smear tests can be very awkward and uncomfortable,” she says.

“But to put it bluntly, I would rather that few minutes of awkwardness and pain rather than having undiagnosed cancer.

“I think because people don’t really understand it (cancer), they’re like ‘oh cancer let’s not talk about it’. People need
to understand it is a hard conversation to have but the more people talk, the easier it becomes.”

Chloe will be participating in this year’s Run Melbourne on Sunday July 28 to fundraise for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation.

Chloe ran 5km for the first time last week, the longest distance she’s ever covered.

“I’m not a runner, but I wanted to push myself,” she says.

To donate to Chloe’s run and help her on her fundraising mission, visit runmelbourne2019.everydayhero.com/au/braca-peter-mac-foundation.