Breast-cancer survivor a model of inspiration

Former Miss World winner Lorraine Downes. Photo / Michael Craig

Glad Downes is a devoted mum and grandmother. She has a joyful spirit and gives 100 per cent to her family, whom she loves more than anything.

"She has taught us what a hard working ethic is, what love is, and how important family is and we all love her dearly," her daughter, Lorraine Downes told the Herald on Sunday.

Glad is one of almost 3,000 New Zealand women diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Her diagnosis in 2012 prompted Lorraine, New Zealand's sole Miss Universe winner, to become an ambassador for the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.

Lorraine, married to terminally ill former New Zealand cricket captain Martin Crowe, is fronting a campaign to raise money for the foundation, including calling on Kiwis to host donation-generating Pink Ribbon Breakfasts.

She said when Glad was diagnosed the first challenge was dealing with the shock and upset. "Mum was 76 and we thought because of her age, she was past the risk of getting breast cancer.

"This was the beginning of a huge education for us.

"We didn't realise that breast cancer is higher in women in their 70s than it is in their 50s.

"The biggest challenge for Mum was understanding the medical information that was being given to her.

"We made sure one of us was always with her in all of her oncologist appointments.

"We are a very close family of four daughters, so we all naturally just stepped up to being there for Mum 100 per cent."

Glad had a 5cm tumour in her left breast. Her seven-month treatment included a double mastectomy. "Her attitude was, 'I need to do this to stay alive, so I will just get on and do it'.

"To witness her recovery from major surgery, then four weeks later commence four treatments of chemo then 17 treatments of radiation, was extremely upsetting for us all. But to witness her bravery and courage was a lesson to us as a family."

Family had worked as a team to support Glad and her partner, Noel. They drove her to appointments, prepared meals and helped around the house.

Today, Glad is cancer-free and looking forward to her 79th birthday at the end of this month.

It was important those diagnosed never felt alone, she said.

"If the person does not have any close family, make use of all the wonderful support organisations there are to help individuals."

She encouraged women to continue having mammograms even after free screening ended at 69.

See your doctor if you have

• A new lump or thickening, especially if it is only in one breast.
• Unusual breast pain.
• A change in breast shape or size.
• A change in the skin of the breast, such as puckering or dimpling; reddening or a rash.
• Any change in a nipple, such as a turned-in nipple, a discharge that occurs without squeezing, crusting, ulcer or redness.