Michael running for Katrina

I’m running on behalf of my indescribably amazing wife, Katrina

For the last 13 years of her too-short life, Katrina battled breast cancer in one form or another.

In 2012, she overcame Invasive Ductal Carcinoma aka IDC (now referred to as No Special Type or NST), the most common type of breast cancer (~80%); it's the type most people are aware of, as it is usually detected via lumps. 

After a lumpectomy and radiotherapy, Katrina was told to have annual mammograms. Being a cautious person, Katrina ensured she did this every year without fail.

The mammogram in 2018 detected a small anomaly in one of Katrina's breasts.

A follow-up ultrasound with biopsies several weeks later detected 3 tumours, the largest being 8 mm. 

After a double mastectomy several weeks later (Katrina's choice), she was told that the largest tumour from one breast was 11 cm. In the other, it was 15 cm. And all 10 axillary nodes removed near one breast had been replaced entirely by lobular cancer. Her breast surgeon postulated that, from the known rate at which that cancer grows, it had probably been active in her for up to 2 years.

Subsequently, Katrina was diagnosed with Stage 3 Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC). Although ILC is the second most common form of breast cancer (~15%), most people don't know that it exists, let alone that it usually does not form lumps in the breast. 

Both of Katrina's breasts were infiltrated over 75% by this invisible killer that mammograms struggle to detect in women with dense breast tissue. 

Sadly, no one told Katrina that until it was too late.

And no oncologist could ever tell her it was gone, as the scanning techniques used couldn't detect the disease until it started doing serious damage somewhere in her body.

Even after multiple rounds of chemo & radiation, the lobular cancer never died - it simply disappeared for a season. Katrina continually had to undergo treatment whenever the disease reappeared by attacking different organs in her body. 

By the time she passed on, the disease had infected her head, stomach, bowels, liver, bones, arms, legs, and who knows where else.

Despite that, Katrina ran Mater Fun Runs in 2019 & 2020, raising funds for Mater, where she received most of her cancer care treatment.

To honour both her life & her passion for making a positive difference, I would like you to consider sponsoring me as I run/jog/walk/stagger the 5km this year in her honour.