Ellie’s Story

“When you’re 31 years old and you’re telling your family and friends, ‘I have breast cancer’, it’s bizarre”.

Just a few days after her 31st birthday, and seven days before she and her husband were scheduled to fly to Europe, Ellie received the devastating diagnosis of Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC).

Ellie was keeping an eye on a lump she found in her left breast by complete accident, and after three weeks decided to get it checked.

The risk factor in her family was high, with both her father’s sisters passing from breast cancer almost 40 years ago.

Although, Ellie lived a fit and heathy lifestyle, so an aggressive breast cancer diagnosis came as a complete shock. 

“When I heard those words, I just thought, ‘no, this isn’t happening to me’.”

Genetic testing revealed Ellie had inherited a mutation in the BRCA1 gene, meaning her risk of developing breast cancer and other cancers was markedly increased. The next week was a whirlwind of meetings with surgeons, planning for chemotherapy, cancelling travel plans, and what was most daunting of all—thinking about her family planning and how she could best safeguard the future of her family.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a fast-growing subtype that can be difficult to control with chemotherapy. In Queensland, it accounts for about 10 per cent of new diagnoses, but half of all early deaths in women under 40.*

Dr Jodi Saunus, Senior Research Fellow at Mater Research, focuses a large part of her research into young women with breast cancer, and developing new therapeutics for this group.

“Younger women with breast cancer face some unique challenges around their treatment,” Dr Saunus says. “The sort of research that we’re doing now holds great hope for the younger generation in their twenties and thirties if they’re in a risk category.”

After six months of intensive chemotherapy, Ellie decided to have a double mastectomy. 

“That was a really hard decision for me. But anxiety of having the breast cancer come back just wasn’t worth it for our family.”

When you purchase a Mater Cars for Cancer ticket, you are joining the global effort to change the future of cancer diagnoses, treatment and care for people like Ellie. Thank you for your support. 

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*New study published by Dr Saunus and colleagues: "Capturing breast cancer subtypes in cancer registries: insights into real-world incidence and survival" (2025)