Within a period of 10 days, Danielle Willox’s life changed dramatically.
The Werribee resident was diagnosed with breast cancer in March, 2014 when she was aged 44. Just 10 days later, she had a mastectomy.
“I was shocked … that was my first reaction,” she said. “You just don’t expect this to happen to you. Then it kicked in that I had to beat it. I have two beautiful kids and a husband.”
Ms Willox underwent six months of treatment, including chemotherapy, and had nurses visit her home to drain fluids.
Last year she made the decision to undergo a breast reconstruction. To kick off the work, Ms Willox had her other breast electronically removed.
She then had a bilateral reconstruction and is extremely happy with the result.
“It feels great,” she said. “Emotionally, I’ve seen the light at the end of the tunnel. The whole thing really weighed with my emotional and mental wellbeing.”
Before undergoing a breast reconstruction, she chose an AeroForm Tissue Expander over traditional breast tissue expanders after researching with her surgeon and a local breast cancer support group. While traditional tissue expanders require needles and multiple visits to the surgeon, AeroForm meant Ms Willox could expand her breast tissue at her own pace and in the privacy of her own home. She said she would not have got through her ordeal without the support of new-found friends who had also experienced cancer, and who she met online.
