A decade after diagnosis, Lisa inspires hope this Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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10 years after her life-changing cancer diagnosis, Lisa Cornwell is sharing her story during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to inspire other women that a breast cancer diagnosis does not need to define a person's life.

Diagnosed with advanced breast cancer at 28 years of age, Lisa has spent the past decade navigating treatment, uncertainty and setbacks while building a career, running a business and getting married. Lisa now supports other rural Queenslanders facing their own health challenges.

What began as a visit to her local General Practitioner after discovering a lump in her breast quickly became a life-changing diagnosis. Within a week, further testing and imaging confirmed Lisa had breast cancer and it had already spread to her bones.

“For the first few rounds of treatment, I was juggling travelling from Charleville to Toowoomba Hospital every three weeks while still working but it got to a point where I could not participate in the world anymore,” Mrs Cornwell said.

"After about seven rounds of treatment, we came back for scans and that's when the first miracle happened, the breast tumour had shrunk."

- Breast cancer survivor, Lisa Cornwell

Despite responding well to treatment and starting to feel like herself again, Lisa faced more devastating news in 2018 when she was diagnosed with brain metastases. At the time, Lisa focused on one goal, to make it to her wedding which was four months away.

“In the lead up to the wedding, that’s where my second miracle happened. Scans confirmed my brain tumours were gone, and we got to announce this to our closest loved ones at our wedding.”

Despite the challenges, Lisa says she made a conscious decision to focus on living her life.

"My goal was always to keep moving forward. There have been difficult moments, but I've tried not to let cancer become my whole identity," Lisa said.

Throughout her treatment journey, Lisa has remained under the care of the oncology team at Toowoomba Hospital, with ongoing treatment now delivered closer to home at the Charleville Hospital through telehealth and outreach services.

Medical Oncologist Dr Khageshwor Pokharel said Lisa's story is one of the most inspiring examples of resilience he has witnessed during his career.

"When Lisa was first referred to us in 2016, she was only 28 years old and had already been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer," Dr Pokharel said.

"Her story shows that while a breast cancer diagnosis can be devastating, advances in treatment mean many people are living longer, fuller lives than ever before."

Now working as a Practice Coordinator with the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Lisa uses her own experiences to help rural and remote patients navigate complex healthcare journeys.

"Because I've been through it myself, I understand the uncertainty and the practical challenges that come with treatment, especially when you live in a rural community," Lisa said.

"If I can make someone else's journey a little easier, then that's really important to me."

As Breast Cancer Awareness Month shines a spotlight on the impact of breast cancer across Australia, Lisa hopes her story encourages people to listen to their bodies and seek medical advice if something doesn't feel right.

"You know your body better than anyone, if something changes, get it checked. Don't ignore it," Lisa said.

If you notice any breast changes or are concerned about your breast health for any reason, make an appointment to talk about it with your doctor.

Women aged 50 to 74 are strongly encouraged to book a free breast screen every two years on the BreastScreen Queensland website.