Reaping Riches for Research

Fighting breast cancer for all women – Tarnya Denn’s inspiring story

Parked in the garage is a pink Suzuki Swift adorned with the specialised plates, ‘Just for me’. A new eBay purchase, a pink saxophone, is lovingly perched on its stand.

On the brass antique mantel in the dining room corner rests a plaque engraved with, ‘Lord keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth’ -  A pertinent phrase for the vivacious, frank and artistic mother of three.

Almost eight years ago 43 year-old Tarnya Denn was diagnosed with grade three breast cancer. At that point in time she was given a 60 per cent chance of survival.

Her diagnosis has changed. She now has secondary breast cancer which has spread to her spine.

Currently 36 Australian women - grandmothers, mothers, daughters, and friends - are diagnosed with breast cancer daily.

Tarnya’s upbeat attitude and fundraising success is now helping those in similar situations all the while she continues fighting her own battle. A battle which began with her having a left mastectomy and then her right breast removed 18 months later when another lump was found.

“I remember looking out at the sky and seeing the moon going across it thinking how many more of those am I going to see,” she said.

For six months Tarnya underwent chemotherapy which was followed by six weeks of radiation.

Experiencing awful side-effects she found solace and stamina in knowing it was temporary.

“You wake up in the morning and you know you’re going be sick but you also know that tomorrow you’re going feel better,” she said.

During this time she remembers going only two days without treatment, stomaching 119 tablets in the space of two weeks. The pills were simple to swallow but for the former hair dresser losing her hair just “pissed” her off.

Alternatively, Tarnya’s mum saw a positive side to her daughter’s thinning hair saying she had a “lovely shaped head”.

 “There’s luck, God forbid you should be bald with an ugly head!” Tarnya replied.

Fed up with her meals constantly being garnished with strands of hair, Tarnya ingeniously resorted to sucking off her remaining hair with a vacuum cleaner.

A bald-headed Tarnya bravely underwent a subcutaneous mastectomy on her right side and then endured a bilateral reconstruction. Her back muscles were flipped to the front providing flesh and muscle to construct new breasts.

Her right breast then became infected and was like a “volcano oozing” she describes.

Having to undergo the same procedure again she said “if this doesn’t work they’re gone, in the bin”.

Prepared to be flat-chested as opposed to her voluptuous C cup, Tarnya adamantly claims she never lost hope although the candle wasn’t always burning brightly.

“Things happen for a reason and there are lessons to be learned from everything we do, and if you don’t learn the lesson we just keep on repeating the exercise,” she said.

The hardest most heartbreaking time for Tarnya was when she was lying in the hospital bed with her mum caringly by her side.

“Mum was holding my hand and rubbing her fingers through what was left of my hair, but because of all the anti-reaction drugs I was on her strokes echoed in my head,” she recalls.

It was when her mother’s tears fell onto her arm that Tarnya realised how much her diagnosis was affecting the ones she loves on a much deeper level.

“From that day on it was like, if it’s going to help you, if it’s gonna make you get through this, stroke my head,” she said.

“This is about me… but it’s not really.”

Bone and CT scans are currently part of Tarnya’s three month medical routine. She is also trialling two drugs which are successfully helping shrink and contain the cancer.

When asked how she’s coping, the unshakeable love and support of her husband Steve and their three children is what she needs and appreciates most.

 “It’s definitely not something you need to do on your own,” she said.

Patient and quietly determined, Steve said he thought about his wife dying for five minutes and then never let it cross his mind again.

So with her family and the Kalgoorlie-Boulder community’s support, Tarnya’s fundraising success and inspiring reputation continues to grow, stemming from her efforts with the Girls Night In.

The idea of hosting the annual event was first mentioned by her sister five years ago who thought it would be beneficial. Money raised from the night goes towards cancer research and promoting awareness of breast cancer.

Acting on her sister’s suggestion, in 2006 Tarnya held her first Girls Night In.

Wearing decorated bras on the outside of their clothing, 125 women filled Tarnya’s backyard which had been transformed into an outdoor dining experience. Through auctions, raffles and community spirit $7500 was raised.

The following year the event was held at Cruickshank Sport Arena to cater for its popularity.

An astounding $32,500 was raised for the Cancer Council WA, earning Tarnya with the title of highest fundraiser in the southern hemisphere.

During the 2008 Australia Day celebrations she was presented with the Mayoral Award as part of the Citizen of the Year Honours - An honour she appreciated and was humbled by.

“I’ve never thought of myself as inspirational; I’m outgoing, I’m happy, I’m very lucky to have such loving and supportive people in my life,” she said.

Last October for her 5^th Girls Night In, Tarnya was asked to raise money especially for the Breast Cancer Research Centre of Western Australia. Raising an impressive total of $93,000 over five Girls Night In events, Tarnya intends to continue with her mighty fundraising efforts.

Almost eight years after her initial diagnosis Tarnya remains the strong, perky and optimistic person she always has been.

“People always ask me if this has been life changing,” she said.

“It has been a confirming experience.

“I always say, I’m still the same person I was when I had two tits, one tit, and no tits. Two tits, back to one tit and back to two.”

 
For more information on breast cancer visit, Breast Cancer Care WA at      www.breastcancer.org.au

You can help raise money for breast cancer research and support. If you are interested in holding your own Girls Night In, details can be found at       www.girlsnightin.com.au

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