Jarae's Journey

Jarae Calder

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and there are lots of different ways to get involved - from being “breast aware” to helping raise vital funds for research, education and patient support.

words: Michelle McCullough images: supplied

At Essence, we are extremely proud to be able to use our platform to raise awareness of Breast Cancer which is the leading cause of death in New Zealand for women under the age of 65. Every year 3,500 women and 25 men are diagnosed with Breast Cancer in Aotearoa. This equates to nine women per day: one of which will be Māori and one who will be under the age of 45.

In this issue, we talk to local beauty therapist Jarae Calder about her Breast Cancer journey. Jarae has had a front-row seat to the destruction Breast Cancer can cause, but refuses to let it beat her.

 The 31-year-old has a rare genetic mutation known as PALB2 that increases the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Jarae inherited the gene from her beloved mother Maryann who sadly passed away on February 24, 2015, after a six-year battle with cancer.

The Breast Cancer Foundation states that inherited breast cancers account for 5-10% of all breast cancers and of these, BRCA mutations like PALB2 carry the highest risk. Sadly, at the time of Maryann’s death, information about the PALB2 gene was unknown.

“Mum was the first person in New Zealand to be recognized to have PALB2. They didn’t know anything about it, but they knew there was some relation to the BRCA mutation. Eventually, a few more people came up with the same variances and they were able to recognise it, and that’s when I was able to be tested.”

When her genetic counsellor told Jarae she had the PALB2 gene, she was not surprised. “I am so like my mum, so I was bound to carry her genes. Knowing that I am so similar to mum, I think I prepared myself that I was going to carry it, so I wasn’t that shocked.”

Jarae’s sister was also tested for the gene, but her results came back negative.

Upon receiving the news that she carried the gene Jarae was given two options - have a mammogram and tests every six months or have a prophylactic double mastectomy. Without hesitation, Jarae chose the mastectomy.

“Seeing how sick my mum was – it was just continuous. There wasn’t a time when she wasn’t getting bad results or having surgery or treatments for six years. I always said if I had the gene I wouldn’t hesitate to have the surgery.

“I didn’t want to live in fear every six months and wait for something to come up. For me, it was about taking control. I definitely have no regrets, but it hasn’t been an easy ride.”

Two years on from her mastectomy and her breast reconstruction, Jarae has still not recovered fully and will need more surgery in the coming months to fix some lingering issues.

“It’s changed what I can do physically. Before I had the surgery I would go to the gym every day and I would have said I was quite strong and was able to lift quite heavy but now I sometimes struggle to open a nail polish bottle.”

Jarae’s cousin is currently battling breast cancer for the second time, which has had a profound impact on Jarae.

“I feel terrible that I was able to do what I did and that dropped my percentage [of getting breast cancer] but unfortunately, she wasn’t quite so lucky. My doctor calls it ‘survivor’s guilt.”

When asked if she had any advice for others going through a similar experience, Jarae said it was important to “trust your gut”.

“The specialists are there to guide you, and they know what they are doing, but ultimately you have to make the decision that is right for you.”

It was also important to have a strong support system, Jarae said.

“I was lucky that I had really good support. My auntie lives on the West Coast and for every appointment, I had she would come over and support me. She has been through it and actually had a pretty rough experience so we had some pretty open talks and even talked about what my mum would have wanted me to do.

“I always remember my mum saying that there’s always someone out there that’s worse off and I definitely live by that.”