Robynn Sleap, co-founder of Sleapy’s Foundation, has a clear message for women: “Listen to your body, know the signs and check any changes, no matter how small or insignificant they seem.”
Robynn knows all too well what it’s like to receive a shock cancer diagnosis.
“After Sleapy’s Day last August, I had a cough that wouldn’t go away. My GP suggested I have a CT scan and a mammogram.
“I had the CT scan immediately but didn’t get the mammogram until early December as I didn’t see the point.
“Between August and December, I had noticed some changes in my right breast but I put it down to weight loss. I wasn’t concerned.
“After my mammogram I was called back for further testing because they found an anomaly.
“Hearing the words, ‘You have breast cancer’ was devastating. I have two daughters and three granddaughters. You just hope you haven’t passed on any genetic issues,” says Robynn.
Robynn says that having Sleapy’s Foundation and hearing about other people’s journeys and difficulties kept her motivated.
“I really felt that I had no choice but to be strong. It was a tough year. My brother had passed away a few months earlier and the night before my mammogram, we attended a memorial service at Calvary Mater to honour people who had passed away at the hospice.
“If I started crying or feeling sorry for myself, I don’t think I could’ve stopped,” she says.
When it came time to start treatment, the knowledge that breast cancer is well-researched and funded gave her hope.
“I felt mentally strong leading up to my treatment phase which included a mastectomy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and hormone blocking therapy,” says Robynn.
Today, Robynn says she is going OK but she won’t know about remission until New Year.
“All I can say is get your boobs checked. Also, there’s no perfect test so it’s worth knowing that you might need a combination of ultrasound, MRI and mammogram,” she says.