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.<\/p>\n
For Drysdale nanny Chloe Reeves,running in a marathon is one of two firsts.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
According to Cancer Australia, women who carry a fault in BRCA1 or BRCA2 have a high lifetime risk of breast cancer \u2013
\nestimated to be in the range of 30-60 per cent \u2013 and a lifetime ovarian cancer risk of about 20 per cent.<\/p>\n
BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations are the most common gene faults associated with breast and ovarian cancers.<\/p>\n
Chloe says her family history of breast cancer spans across generations.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy 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.<\/p>\n
I was found positive for the BRCA2 gene,\u201d says Chloe, 24, who grew up in Point Lonsdale.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat 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\u2019s going to be ongoing for the rest of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n
When Chloe\u2019s mum was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, Chloe decided she wanted to know if she was a carrier.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was just before I got tested that she (Chloe\u2019s mum) was diagnosed. She had a double mastectomy and a year and half later she had a hysterectomy to lower her risk of cancer,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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\u2019t get tested, it would always be on my mind the unknown.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Luckily for Chloe, she had uncovered a \u201cmouse lump\u201d which in medical terms is known as a fibroadenomas, a common benign breast condition.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was quite scary. I was only 20 at the time,\u201d she remembers.<\/p>\n
Although Chloe lives with the burden of knowing she\u2019s at risk of developing breast cancer, the bright young woman credits her optimism to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation.<\/p>\n
Having visited the cancer centre at least once a year since she was first told of her BRCA2 gene, Chloe says the support she\u2019s
\nreceived from specialists, doctors and staff has helped to ease her anxieties.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel very grateful that I have the support of Peter Mac,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, knowledge is power. The more information I have about this gene mutation, it means I can make more informed decisions about my health.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019s Run Melbourne to fundraise for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation.<\/p>\n
Chloe believes the more people who donate to the foundation, the more people Peter Mac can help.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the first time I\u2019m talking about this publicly\u2026 apart from my family and a few friends, I have never spoken about it,\u201d Chloe admits.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Chloe says although she believes awareness around the importance of screen tests among women is increasing, more conversations about cancer need to occur.<\/p>\n
\u201cMammograms and smear tests can be very awkward and uncomfortable,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut to put it bluntly, I would rather that few minutes of awkwardness and pain rather than having undiagnosed cancer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think because people don\u2019t really understand it (cancer), they\u2019re like \u2018oh cancer let\u2019s not talk about it\u2019. People need
\nto understand it is a hard conversation to have but the more people talk, the easier it becomes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chloe will be participating in this year\u2019s Run Melbourne on Sunday July 28 to fundraise for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation.<\/p>\n
Chloe ran 5km for the first time last week, the longest distance she\u2019s ever covered.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not a runner, but I wanted to push myself,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
To donate to Chloe\u2019s run and help her on her fundraising mission, visit runmelbourne2019.everydayhero.com\/au\/braca-peter-mac-foundation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 […]<\/p>\n