Episode 43: In conversation with Tania and Fiona: The challenges of living in a rural area following a breast cancer diagnosis

Upfront About Breast Cancer

We recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to this podcast, as some may find the content upsetting.

Let’s be Upfront about living in a rural area following a breast cancer diagnosis. For people living in rural areas there can be additional stress and challenges, which may include limited, or no, local cancer treatment centres, having to travel long distances for treatment and the resulting financial impact, and having to leave family at home while you are away for treatment.

Joining us for this In Conversation episode are Tania and Fiona.

Tania was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 when she was 32 and living in a rural community 100kms from Adelaide. After her diagnosis she had to travel to Adelaide for tests, surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Fiona was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021 and lives on a farm in southwest Victoria. She had a mastectomy, four and half months of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and has recently commenced hormone blocking medication.

During this candid conversation between Tania and Fiona we hear their stories, the challenges they faced, how they coped with the hardship of travelling for treatment and the financial impact, where they found support and the advice they have for those diagnosed with breast cancer living in a rural area.

This podcast was recorded in April 2022.

RESOURCES:

• Sign up to My Journey and for a range of resources on living in a rural or regional area with breast cancer including Breast cancer information for people in rural areas, Questions to ask if you live in a remote or rural area and Financial support for people with breast cancer in rural and remote areas
• Cancer Australia Women in rural areas
• Visit our Online Network to connect with people going through a similar experience

Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by the late Tara Simmons, and this episode is proudly brought to you by Sussan.

This episode was engineered and edited by Jane Nield at SEN Studios.

If this episode helped you or someone you know, you can support the show in the following ways to allow us to continue to be upfront with you and reach more people through meaningful content. Subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode, download so you always have an episode ready to listen to, leave a rating and review and tell us what you liked about the episode and complete the survey that you’ll find in the show notes. This survey will help us to tailor and create content that is relevant to our members and their breast cancer diagnosis.

Want to get in touch? Visit our website at bcna.org.au, email us at [e-mail], or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258