Debbie Clarke is an award-winning artist, co-owner of Landmark Homes NZ with husband Paul, and president of the Tauranga Arts Society. At 61, she’s fit, healthy and continuously on the go with work and family commitments, and community and creative projects. She’s busy and loves it that way. Needless to say, she’s also a strong believer in taking charge of her own wellbeing, however, nine years ago, at a routine breast ultrasound appointment, her survival lay in the hands of someone else entirely.
A radiologist was concerned about a slight distortion of tissue and organised an immediate mammogram. The scan showed nothing unusual, however, unconvinced, the radiologist asked Debbie to stay for a biopsy. Already late for a meeting, Debbie said she’d make an appointment later and hurried off.
“I got two blocks down the road and thought ‘silly girl’ and went back for the biopsy. My doctor called
a few days later to say I had breast cancer. I couldn’t believe it because by then I’d dismissed it, thinking the mammogram was clear. After my surgery, I went back and saw the radiologist and said ‘I owe you my life’.”
Debbie was diagnosed with invasive lobular cancer* in her left breast, and the recommended treatment plan to remove the 6mm tumour involved a lumpectomy, followed by radiotherapy. Grateful to also be offered a choice of other treatment options, Debbie nonetheless spent the weekend considering her situation, and by Monday felt strongly about her treatment plan – a double mastectomy and TRAM reconstruction.
* Only around 10 of invasive breast cancer cases are invasive lobular carcinomas, compared to the more common ductal carcinomas. In the early stages, invasive lobular carcinoma may cause no signs or symptoms; in fact, it is less likely than other forms of breast cancer to cause a distinct breast lump.
Lobular breast cancer is also less likely to be detected on a mammogram than other types of breast cancer, however, mammograms are still very important diagnostic tests. Your doctor or specialist can tell you more about diagnostic testing and what is best for you.
“It was massive surgery and from the specialist’s perspective was like killing an ant with a sledgehammer!”
But Debbie was resolute. Despite diagnostic tests showing nothing untoward in her other breast, she was mindful of her family history, given two maternal aunts and two cousins had had breast cancer. An MRI was arranged to get a more definitive diagnosis of both breasts.
“The MRI result was ugly and showed widespread abnormal cells in my left breast,” she says. They weren’t necessarily cancer cells, but now it was obvious that a mastectomy was a better choice, and the specialist agreed to the double even though the other breast looked fine.
LONG ROAD AHEAD
In October 2010, Debbie had a bi-lateral mastectomy with TRAM reconstruction and sentinel node biopsy – an eight-hour surgery requiring two surgical teams. The three nodes were found to have cancer and three weeks later she had all lymph nodes removed in her left armpit – they were clear bar five cells in one node. However, histology of the removed breast tissue painted a less-than-pretty picture: two measuring 60mm and 22mm, two other measurable , and the tissue “wasn’t too flash either”. It was stage 3 invasive cancer and she says the doctors became “quite grim” about her prognosis. Her right breast showed no cancer although there were definite signs of cell change.
Her extensive recovery period saw her bent over for several weeks because of the breast reconstruction surgery and having to use a walking frame. Further surgeries were required to fix recurring problems with the belly mesh inserted as part of the TRAM procedure. As well, six months of chemotherapy began just before Christmas.
“Chemo was tough. I managed quite well with but chemo affects everything, like your skin and taste. And the brain fog – I’ve always been a multitasking person but you can’t do that or do anything fast. It’s like your whole world narrows down to one thing and you have to really concentrate to do it.”
A few years before the diagnosis and surgery Debbie and Paul had turned their 40-year old company, Landmark Homes, into a franchise business format and today have 15 franchises around the country. They run the national office from Tauranga, providing franchisees with systems, marketing day-to-day support. Debbie continued to work full time as much as possible during her chemo treatment and says having a specific project gave her a purpose and something to focus on. “It definitely helped me get out of bed every morning and pretend to be half normal!” she says.
DRIVEN TO LEARN
Having always had an interest in alternative medicine, she also began reading to find out more about wellness from another perspective.
“I’ve always had the attitude of needing to take responsibility for my own health and wellbeing, and I became even more determined since my diagnosis. At first, I was indignant – why had this happened to me? But I was driven to find out why, and what I could do to stay well. Irrespective of what diagnosis I had, I was going to live; I was going to win the fight – that’s how I reacted to it.”
For the next five years, Debbie, a former nurse, devoured hundreds of books, papers studies to understand what practical steps she could take to maintain her health. Now she attributes a large part of her ongoing health and wellbeing to what she found on the internet during those years.
“Cancer only grows when conditions allow it so I about the importance of changing the environment in my body. Iodine and selenium, for example, are elements New Zealanders don’t getenough of yet both are vitally important to protect against cancer. I’m convinced all women should be taking them and it drives me nuts how hard it is to find out about these things and get hold of supplements.”
Debbie diligently took a range of supplements, including Vitamin C, Iscador preparations, Graviola and Essiac Tea, and adapted to a more alkaline diet by eating less meat and sugar and no refined oils. Everything she was readily available online, and she highly recommends the not-for-profit website, breastcancerchoices. org, for information on breast cancer research projects, supplements and how to ‘clean up your life’.
NEW CREATIVE CAREER
While she continues to take a number of key nutritional supplements and is conscious about her food choices, she has “calmed the farm” on her programme of supplementation. And after five years of reading, Debbie also lightened up on her stack of books, creating space in her life for a new adventure. In 2015 she went to a painting demonstration by local watercolour artist Jenny Coker, not realising that everyone would be picking up a brush and having a go. Debbie had never painted anything in her life!
“Well,it lit a fire in me; I was so excited I couldn’t believe it,” she says. “I’ve always loved natural form and wanted to paint massive flowers, so I bought some training DVDs from Susan Harrison Tustain, whose artwork I have always admired, and then discovered Birgit O’Connor who runs an internet art school from California – I’d even get up at to take part in her live-streamed classes.”
Debbie joined the Tauranga Society of Artists knowing that her husband’s grandmother was a founding member of the group in the 1950s when it was called the Tauranga Sketch Club. She’s delighted to have that earlier connection with the Society, and as the current president, feels this is her time to give back to the “group of wonderful artists”, and indeed the local community at large who had once supported her.
“During my cancer treatment, I received such amazing support from my family and friends and was overwhelmed by people’s kindness. I received letters and cards in the mail, meals arrived on the kitchen bench and my sister-in-law came to every chemo session with me. And the incredible generosity of the women who volunteer for the Look Good Feel Better – there were so many special things and special people and it was a truly humbling time.
“Having cancer made me even more passionate about taking charge of my own health and I encourage others to question everything. Feel comfortable that you are making a decision because it’s the best thing for you, not just because you’re told to do it. Although chemo made me feel wretched, I did it because I believed it was the thing I needed to do to contribute to my long-term health. Nobody ever gave me sign off to say I’m fixed; it’s up to meto be responsible for my own life.”
As well as taking charge of herselfphysically – including several walks up the Mount each week – mental health is also part of the equation. She’s gradually cut down her workload to one day per week to give her more time to look after her grandchildren, see her friends and, of course, to work on her new-found artistic career. With several art awards already to her name in just three years – including the Society’s Supreme Award this year and in 2017 – that new career is shaping up to be a long and successful one.
“The Society is a great welcoming group of artists of varying experience and style,” says Debbie. “I’ve had so many opportunities to learn and participate in different workshops and I encourage anyone vaguely interested to come along and see if it’s for them.”