A cancer survivor is sharing her journey to raise awareness about the importance of early detection and clinical trials in the fight against the disease.
Mother of three Jodie Brown credits her youngest child for saving her life.
It was while she was pregnant with her now seven-year-old daughter Amelia that she noticed a lump.
“I was 35 and pregnant with my third child when I felt a lump on my left breast,” Jodie said.
“It was more noticeable because of the pregnancy hormones. “I truly don’t believe I would have noticed this lump until it was too late, had I not been pregnant.”
The fact Jodie had fallen pregnant for a third time was considered a miracle for her and husband Craig.
“Our first two children (Harrison, now 11, and Callum, 9) were IVF; our little girl was just meant to be,” Jodie said.
“She saved my life before she even entered it.”
Jodie and daughter Amelia.
After she raised concerns about the lump, it took some time before she was diagnosed.
Initially, Jodie’s GP suggested it may go away on its own after an initial ultrasound was inconclusive.
“A few months later, the lump hadn’t gone away, and my body was telling me this was something more serious, but unfortunately, I was unable to do a mammogram or biopsy due to the pregnancy,” Jodie said.
A second ultrasound was again inconclusive.
Within two weeks of her daughter’s birth, Jodie had a mammogram and biopsy and was told to expect the results within a few days.
“It took only 20 minutes for my GP to call me and ask to see me urgently,” Jodie said.
“With my husband Craig and Mum by my side, the doctor broke the news no woman ever wants to hear.
“He said, ‘I’m afraid to tell you, you’ve got breast cancer.’ I burst into tears.”
Jodie’s doctor carefully explained what the diagnosis meant and referred her to a surgeon and oncologist.
That was the day that changed everything
After two lumpectomies, Jodie started five months of aggressive chemotherapy treatment.
"Much to my surprise, I was then informed by my radiation oncologist that they would not be able to technically deliver adequate radiation due to the margins, and a mastectomy was recommended,” she said.
“The mastectomy occurred on 7 November 2017, followed by six weeks recovery time with daily radiation to commence in 2018 for approximately five weeks.”
Reconstructive surgery was planned for later in 2018.
During this period Jodie was undergoing an array of regular treatments, scans and tests, including a clinical trial for a new drug treatment.
“I have literally thrown everything I can at this,” Jodie said.
“Balancing motherhood with treatment was tough, especially with a newborn and two young children.
“I underwent five surgeries and faced physical changes like losing my hair, and other medically induced changes like entering early menopause, weight gain and developing lymphoedema.
“I’ve also dealt with other health conditions like MS, which made things more complex.”
Jodie wants to raise awareness of breast cancer research and the importance of clinical trials.
“I participated in a clinical trial that gave me additional hope and I want others to know how vital trials and research could be to a more positive and brighter outcome,” she said.
“I want to help other women facing this battle, offering them support and hope that they can get through it.
“If I can be a part of raising awareness for further research and trials, then maybe in my lifetime we can live in a world with less-invasive treatments, or better still, a breast cancer cure.
“Research is so vital in achieving this.”
Clinical trials enable researchers to find new ways of preventing, diagnosing and treating breast cancer.
They examine how well treatments work to control or cure disease, symptoms and side effects and whether they can improve quality of life.
All new breast cancer treatments and prevention strategies must be rigorously tested through the clinical trials process before they are made widely available to the community.
Jodie Brown with her husband Craig and children Amelia, Harrison and Callum.
All proceeds from the sale of the 2025 Australian Women's Health Diary go towards funding Breast Cancer Trials research. Topics covered in the hard-cover diary include nutrition, exercise, financial wellbeing, skin care, heart, breast and mental health.
The diary is available for $19.99 from womenshealthdiary.com.au, newsagents, Woolworths and participating Post Offices.