Chontaine Adair, a mother of two from Wollondilly, south-west of Sydney, experienced excruciating pain in her ribs and back that began in October 2024. Despite multiple hospital visits and doctor consultations over the subsequent 12 months, she was repeatedly told the pain was muscular.
Adair, then 31, found it difficult to move, stand, walk, or even hug her young daughters, aged five and six at the time. The pain would subside for weeks before returning without warning. She expressed her concerns to doctors, explaining that the pain had started suddenly and was not due to any physical injury, but was consistently reassured that it was a muscular issue that would take time to heal. Eventually, she stopped seeking medical help, believing further visits would be unproductive.
In October 2025, the pain returned with greater intensity and did not recede. A visit to her general practitioner led to a referral for a CT scan, which revealed four tumors and stage four hormone receptor-positive breast cancer that had metastasized to her bones. Doctors believe the cancer was likely already stage four when her symptoms first began, given the location of the pain corresponded with the tumors found.
Adair's diagnosis was confirmed after a series of biopsies, scans, and specialist appointments. A significant concern was a tumor near her spine, which prompted hospitalization to assess potential spinal cord pressure. Fortunately, tests confirmed no impingement on her spinal cord, averting the risk of losing mobility.
Now 33, Adair is undergoing treatment, which includes radiotherapy and hormone therapies that induce medical menopause and strengthen her bones. Her latest scans indicate that the cancer is no longer actively growing or spreading. While the treatment has been effective in reducing tumors and preventing progression, it has presented challenges, including hot flashes, fatigue, reflux, and severe joint pain. Some medications were altered due to debilitating side effects.
Adair and her husband have chosen to keep the specifics of her diagnosis from their young daughters, explaining that she has a sore back and attends appointments to get better. Her primary concern following the diagnosis was her ability to be present for her children. Despite facing an incurable condition, Adair aims to transform her experience into a positive force by encouraging others, particularly younger women, to trust their instincts and seek thorough medical answers when experiencing persistent or unusual symptoms. She hopes her story will prompt individuals to advocate for themselves if they feel their concerns are being dismissed.
She is also participating in efforts to fund clinical trials for breast cancer. Her treatment regimen includes injections every 28 days to manage her condition.