Imagine a world without cancer

AFTER supporting her mother through her second cancer diagnosis, Moorabool resident Dyna Buntine began exploring her own risk of the disease.

The journey, Conquering Cancer, has been documented by the Moonshine Agency and will be shown at cinemas throughout Australia.

“I was working as a cytologist screening for cancer,” said Buntine.

“I attended medical and surgical appointments, chemo, radiation and even assessing clinical trial options with my mother.

“When I then explored my own risk for the disease, screening and treatment options, I thought I could share my knowledge and help other women in the process.

“I contacted Sue Collins from Moonshine Agency to see if she was interested in making a documentary.

“She has since recorded a podcast with the first episode describing that first phone call.”

Ten years in the making, the resulting documentary will be featured in Village Cinemas and other independent movie theatres across Australia in June.

The synopsis for the film is to imagine a world without cancer and whether Australia can rise to the challenge of conquering breast cancer.

“Currently, breast cancer (BC) is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia,” said Buntine.

“While survival rates have improved significantly, breast cancer is far from solved.

“The film highlights the urgent challenge of preventing, detecting, and treating one of the nation’s most common cancers.”

The film features powerful stories from survivors, advocates, and experts in the field as they explore the progress that’s been made and the work still to be done to ensure breast cancer becomes survivable for everyone.

“I haven’t had a breast cancer diagnosis, but I supported my mother through both times she had breast cancer,” said Buntine.

“As a woman at high risk of developing BC myself and after over 10 years of screenings I chose to have a double mastectomy in 2016.”

Buntine has lived in Moorabool for 12 years with her husband James. They have three children, Alexander, Samuel and Tahlia.

Of Middle Eastern heritage, Buntine has a passion for Middle Eastern food.

After the birth of her first child, she wrote her first cookbook The Taste of Egypt.

It won Best in the World for Arab Cuisine at the World Cookbook Awards.