The Unexpected Email That Led to a Cancer Diagnosis
A Melbourne mother and business owner was diagnosed with stage three cancer at 30 after a client's email prompted her to get checked.
Cait Bransgrove, a mortgage broker from Melbourne, considered herself to be young, fit, and healthy. At 30 years old, she was raising three young children and building her business. However, her world changed dramatically when an unexpected email from a client led to a stage three cancer diagnosis. Bransgrove initially had no reason to suspect anything was seriously wrong, as she regularly attended health checks and kept up with blood tests.
After feeling a small lump in her breast, Bransgrove visited a doctor as a precautionary measure. A subsequent biopsy confirmed her diagnosis of breast cancer. She described the experience of being 30, a mother of three, and suddenly hearing she had stage three breast cancer as difficult to describe.
As a business owner, Bransgrove expressed initial concerns about managing her work and family responsibilities during her treatment. She is currently undergoing her third round of chemotherapy, acknowledging it as part of a long treatment journey. One of the most challenging aspects for Bransgrove has been the sudden loss of her normal life. She emphasized the importance of getting checked, regardless of how minor symptoms may seem.