Save my Sister Nyrie from Cancer

Meet Nyrie Contor... Teacher, Artist, Nature Lover, Wife, Mother to three children and my Sister...

Nyrie is 42 and has stage 4 Cancer in her sternum, ribs, pelvis and hips.

This aggressive Cancer is a flow on effect from when she had Breast Cancer 4 years ago, while she was pregnant with twins.

Nyrie lives in Mackay, Queensland Australia and is married to her Husband, Wayde. Together they have a boy named Hudson who is 8 and twin girl and boy named Asher and Brynn who are 3 years old.


Nyrie is a loving and caring person that contributes to her family, friends and the community... But she needs help, both mentally and physically Nyrie is struggling and fighting this terrible cancer as it spreads through her body. She wants a future with her family and help her Children grow up, she doesn't want her children to lose and grow up without their mother.




Nyrie is once again having treatment for her Cancer but can always do with some extra help. Her family and friends are looking at other treatments to help fend off the cancer, even looking into 3D printed metal bones which can possibly replace the bones and parts of her body harbouring the Cancer.


All of this of course costs money and that is where we are reaching out to you through GoFundMe to help make these treatments a reality for Nyrie. You can be gratified that your contributuion will help Nyrie hopefully live a long and pleasant life with her growing children and help keep her family a family.

For more information about Nyries battle with cancer please read below or visit www.facebook.com/savemysisterfrombreastcancer/ 

My Story by Nyrie Contor


My breast cancer experience begins like many other 'younger women' who are diagnosed with this insidious disease, but there was a twist. At 38 I was under the age for routine mammograms and I never really expected that breast cancer would touch my life in such a profound way. 

In late August 2012 just by chance, I found a lump in my left breast close to my armpit. I was immediately concerned so I asked my husband to take a look too. He confirmed that there was definitely a lump about the size of a 5c piece, maybe a little smaller. I was immediately uneasy but this was a Saturday evening and we had just attended a wedding, so I had to wait until Monday to see my GP! Waiting to have the lump seen to was maddening, I hoped and tried to rationalise that it was just a blocked milk duct! You see, my husband and I were also very excited as I was pregnant, 28 weeks to be precise! But this was not just 'a' baby, I was pregnant with twins! A boy and a girl.


We had tried to add to our family over the 5 years before their birth (we also have a little boy, then 5) but for some reason we couldn't fall pregnant. We had two IUI (pre IVF) cycles with no success so we went to IVF and were so happy with its immediate success! I had just enjoyed one week's early maternity leave but little did I know my world was about to be turned upside down in more ways than one!

My visit to the GP on the Monday was harrowing to say the least but he did the right thing and referred me for an immediate ultrasound so I went in that afternoon. The sonographer was about my age maybe a little younger and I noticed that she was pregnant too. I was not given any information about the findings of the ultrasound at that time but was referred for a biopsy the following morning. I went to this appointment on my own as well. In retrospect I shouldn't have, it was terrifying. I sat in a waiting room with a much older lady who looked rather uneasy too. When I went into the private room I had to wait for the doctor who was about 40 minutes late that day. There were several nurses in the room, all trying to have a conversation with me. When the doctor did arrive she numbed my breast first thankfully and tried to perform a FNA (fine needle aspiration). This was unsuccessful. So she moved on to perform two or three CNB (core needle biopsy). It was not a good feeling lying there with my very pregnant belly and being poked and prodded but the nurses and doctors were very good. Occasionally the ladies would ask if I felt ok. They didn't tell me anything about the lump other than what I 'overheard,' they didn't need too, I knew something was wrong. When the tests were complete they gave me an ice brick to reduce bruising and sent me on my way. I broke down in the car barely able to drive and so called my husband. He told me to go home and rest. I tried as best as I could. Now the waiting game had begun. I spoke to my family on the phone but could not pop in to see mum and dad as they live so far away, 3000km in South Australia. This was very hard but I coped as best I could. 

I had asked for the results of the biopsy to be sent to my obstetrician as I was seeing him on the Thursday. The GP called me in the meantime and tried to prepare me for bad news but I was not given any information about breast cancer nor was I referred to any helpful agencies! My obstetrician (who is a wonderful man) broke the news to my husband and myself on the Thursday. To say I was devastated was a complete understatement. It was like my whole world just fell in on me. I couldn't breathe and I couldn't speak, all I could hear were the words 'invasive ductal carcinoma.' I think my first question was "is it very aggressive?" His words were "I'd rather not say but I have booked you in to see the surgeon at the Mater Hospital tomorrow morning at 8am." Needless to say I did not feel very reassured. This is so NOT how my pregnancy was meant to unfold. I was utterly devastated and terrified.

I saw the surgeon the following morning and she sent me for a further ultrasound and mammogram. Her first words to me were "this is a very grim situation indeed." I was petrified and said "please tell me what I need to do, if I need to have the whole breast removed I will." She told me she would prefer to use breast conservation surgery but that from the mammogram she could see I would need to have many of my lymph nodes removed as they were engorged with the cancer. The tumour itself did not show up on the image as my breast tissue was too dense but the very enlarged lymph nodes did! I was told I'd need to have chemotherapy and probably radiation so I would need to see the medical oncologist. I was told that I would probably have chemo with the babies in situ. I remember asking about whether or not I could breast feed. My surgeon recommended that I should not attempt to breast feed and that in fact I should access medication to stop my milk from even coming in. This was a huge blow, I was sobbing as I breast fed my first son until he was 18 months old. She also suggested that I have my ovaries and fallopian tubes removed as my cancer was very hormone positive and aggressive. I was so very upset.

My surgery was scheduled for the following Friday. During my visit to the medical oncologist I was told that I could not have chemotherapy with the babies in situ as the drugs I would need would cross the placenta barrier so therefore the twins would need to be delivered prematurely. Once again I was told, no breastfeeding and that I should have my ovaries and fallopian tubes removed! My situation was becoming more and more devastating. To make things worse I could not be sent to have any other scans to see how far the cancer had spread until after I had delivered the babies! I simply had to keep going and hope for the best!

I went back to my obstetrician. He had planned to deliver the babies by Caesarean section at 32 weeks. I begged him to keep them in utero for another week but he refused. I had my first surgery, a lumpectomy and a full auxiliary clearance (all lymph nodes removed on affected side), at 29 weeks into my pregnancy. The drain was the most painful torture and my arm was so sore from the auxiliary clearance. At this stage I had still not been referred to any cancer services or support groups or a breast care nurse! In fact at the hospital where I had my breast surgery there was no breast care nurse. I felt very overwhelmed and alone. My husband tried to console me but what could he do really? He was struggling himself!

My surgeon mentioned the word lymphedema but said it was 'the least of my worries' and said as long as I did plenty of stretches and gentle exercise I would be able to maintain it. She said "some say you should not have blood pressure or needles on this arm however if it's a matter of life and death and they use that arm it's not going to kill you!" I researched lymphedema myself while I was then waiting to deliver the babies. I found a good therapist in Mackay and got into contact with the breast care nurse at the local Base Hospital. The breast care nurse was my most important contact. She gave me information that helped me to educate myself about my disease. She gave me the early breast cancer kit produced by BCNA (Breast Cancer Network Australia). I was eventually able to get a referral to see the physiotherapist but only after I'd had the babies and once I'd started chemotherapy! I still have trouble with lymphedema in my left arm and wear a compression sleeve and see my therapist once a month. My lymphedema is a chronic condition, it will never go away, it's a side effect of my treatment that will require constant management for the rest of my life.

The babies were delivered at 32 weeks in the Mackay Base Hospital by my private obstetrician. They went straight into the Neonatal ward, I didn't get to touch or cuddle them, it was all so clinical. My obstetrician then removed my ovaries and fallopian tubes spearing me head on into early menopause at just 38 years of age! I remember the anaesthetist asking me why I was so upset and crying! Who wouldn't be in my situation? The main thing was that the babies were safe.


The babies were born healthy and well but still spent some time in humidy cribs and were in hospital for six weeks in total. My obstetrician came to visit me and gave me the pills to stop my milk from coming in. They did not work! I became totally engorged and the lactation consultants were beside themselves trying to help me stop the milk. It was dreadful. Fortunately I had the foresight to set up some expressed breast milk donors for the twins before I went into hospital and during the following months a total of 12 women donated milk for Asher and Brynn, even my sister in law from Adelaide sent up frozen milk on dry ice with mum and dad when they came to help. Such a humbling experience. I am forever grateful to these ladies!

Approximately a week and a half after delivering the twins I had my 'staging scans' which were also quite terrifying. I had a CT of my chest and head and a full body bone scan. Fortunately these came back all clear. Unfortunately the cancer had spread extensively into the nodes in my left armpit hence the full auxiliary clearance. I also had some unsettling news from my surgeon. She told me that the margins were not clear and that I would need more surgery after chemotherapy. My cancer was ER+ and PR+ but Her 2- 

Approximately a week and half after this I began chemotherapy. Just before I began chemotherapy I donated my very long hair to Pantene beautiful lengths! It seemed such a waste to just let it all fall out. The twins were just three weeks old when I did my first round of chemo. I was not able to touch or cuddle them for 7 to 10 days after each of my six chemo cycles due to the toxicity of the drugs and the risks they posed to the babies and other children (including our then 5 year old son, Hudson). Imagine that! Two tiny gorgeous babies and not being able to touch or feed them! Absolutely devastating!


I had six rounds of TAC chemotherapy. I lost all my hair and was so ill for a week or more after each treatment. My husband was not coping well and seemed to be in a daze but to his credit he kept working which was so important as we needed his income to help with medical costs and other bills. He helped where he could but it was a very difficult time for him too. My husband's family are older and could not offer us the sort of practical assistance I so desperately needed so I went about organising a live in nanny to help with the children and day to day chores. I remember the breast care nurse asking me how I was going to afford to pay for such help! Unfortunately the breast care nurse and social workers could not refer me to any helpful agencies. 

It must have been very difficult to work with a young woman such as myself with breast cancer whilst being pregnant with twins. The statistics for women diagnosed with breast cancer world wide are not very high, so it is still relatively unusual, less than 4% of pregnancies will develop gestational breast cancer. My needs were so different. Fortunately, after some searching, I was able to find an agency on line who I registered with and I was able to secure a lovely, enthusiastic young and professional nanny named Cherie. She was amazing and such a big help to us all!

I asked about having genetic testing to check for my hereditary disposition to breast cancer and now I had a daughter to consider too! I was not sent for the test or referred to anyone as apparently it could "open up a can of worms" so to speak. I actually felt that having the test might help me to make an informed decision about what further surgery I might need. I was not sure whether I would have another lumpectomy, a single mastectomy or even a bi lateral mastectomy. Maybe if I carried one of the BRCA  genes my treatment and surgery would change to suit. I was eventually referred to a geneticist by my second private surgeon in Brisbane after chemotherapy. Alas I still could not access the test unless I forked out $2000. It was not until I found a way to be referred through the public system that I could access the test for free and that was 18  months later, after all of my active treatment had finished. It was worth pursuing as the tests came back all negative, meaning I won't be rushing out to have any more surgeries after my first three.  

Fortunately my friends, my sister who lives in the next town and the community of Mackay were my saviours. They helped us with food, school drop off and pick up and money to hire our nanny. My sister, Vhari Kelly and three of my friends Hayley, Leanne and Jenny formed a committee and held a gala evening to raise funds to help us through. They are such great, strong women and raised almost $50 000 for us. My parents made the 3000km trek from South Australia to help out for six weeks at the beginning of my chemotherapy treatment too and they came up to Townsville for two weeks while I was having radiation treatment to help. The community and family support we received was just so overwhelming and heart warming and I thank everyone from the very bottom of my heart.

Following chemotherapy I had a talk with my Mackay surgeon who gave me the further surgery options. I asked her what she would do in her professional opinion. She said that she felt it would be best to remove the whole breast with no reconstruction for at least 5 years. I took some time to think about this and decided on a second opinion (breast cancer not only knocks you around physically, it is very mentally draining too! My confidence certainly took a beating through this whole harrowing experience). I mustered up the courage to ask for a referral to a specialist private breast surgeon and endocrinologist whom I'd researched in Brisbane. I also requested a referral to see a plastic surgeon about reconstruction while in Brisbane just in case I needed to follow that path. 

My husband was not initially happy with my choice to go to Brisbane for further surgery as he felt obliged to have me treated by the original surgeon in our home town! But, the decision was mine and we flew 1000km south to Brisbane, leaving our very young children in the care of our capable nanny for ten days, in between my last two chemo treatments to see the specialist surgeon. In retrospect we are very happy with our decision to access treatment in Brisbane. It gave me more of a sense of control over my experience and I was able to make decisions for myself in a situation that seemed so out of control.

The breast care nurses in Brisbane were amazing! One of them came into the appointment with my husband and myself to act as an extra set of ears. Dr Wetzig told me that if I wanted a mastectomy he could do that but he felt that he could clear the margin with another wide local excision. I decided to go with the wide local excision and was reassured when the breast care nurse told me that she felt that was a sensible decision based on the fact I had two babies who I would not be able to cuddle for some time if I went with the full mastectomy with drains etc! I also visited the plastic surgeon at this time to discuss what would happen if I did need to have a full mastectomy anyway. 


The nurses in Brisbane gave me plenty of information and advice and even helped me with my lymphedema. I was able to access an occupational therapist soon after my surgery on the ward. I had my second surgery on the 5th March 2013, three weeks after my last chemotherapy treatment. Dr Wetzig came to see me soon after the first operation and told me that he'd removed all the tissue from around the tumour site, in fact he'd removed a 'chunk of tissue the size of his fist' and right down to the chest wall was all clear. In fact, he told me there was no sign of any cancer in any of the tissue removed. I was elated and cried tears of joy, it was such a relief. Unfortunately though there were some complications from the surgery and I developed a large haematoma (blood and fluid filled sack) on the scar tissue. Another surgery to drain it and then some more fine needle aspirations when I arrived home with my Mackay surgeon saw it resolve over a few weeks.

At this stage I'm sure people were thinking I was on the road to recovery and to some degree this was true. However, I still had six weeks of intensive radiation ahead of me. I really had no idea what this would entail until I went to my planning appointment. For this I had to travel 400km north to Townsville as there is no radiation facility for cancer patients in Mackay. At the planning appointment I was overwhelmed and broke down  when having my three permanent positioning tattoos applied ready for the treatments. My children and the children I teach now notice the tattoo in the middle of my chest most often, mistaking it for ink pen marks. The radiation machines where enormous noisy and so clinical. I had 30 radiation treatments including boosts of radiation. They were administered every day for the six weeks I was in Townsville. During this time I relocated the whole family to Townsville and I even enrolled Hudson in a local sister school there so he could continue his year one studies. 

The radiation treatment made me very tired but I was determined to make the most of our new home for that time and explored the region with the children as much as I could. This was also the year that my beautiful friend Sheree McLeod introduced me to the NBCFs (National Breast Cancer Foundation) Mother's Day Classic. I learnt that NBCF was about research for a cure and the Mother's Day Classic was one of their biggest events. I was surprised to find there was no event held in Townsville so I went about organising my own with my family along The Strand. It was a beautiful day and I raised $1500 in that first year. Last year I held a high tea and participated in the Mother's Day Classic raising $6500. Sadly my friend Sheree passed away from secondary breast cancer last November, just shy of her 40th birthday. This year I walked in the Mother's Day Classic for her and her young family with my young family. She has left a beautiful legacy and I want to remember her and help others now in my own community volunteer work for the breast cancer fraternity. In 2015 I was the community ambassador for Mother's Day Classic in Mackay and I also became the Mackay and Whitsunday's Community Liaison for Breast Cancer Network Australia. 

After I completed my active treatment I went back to see my obstetrician and discuss what I should do with my three remaining embryos! I was already high risk of recurrence (the cancer metastasising and returning in other parts of my body). It was decided that my very hormone positive cancer put me at extremely high risk of recurrence if I were to become pregnant again. So my husband and I decided to donate our three remaining embryos. We are very happy with our decision to offer the special gift family to another couple in need.


Now that my active treatment is complete I am still on hormone blocking medication to prevent me from having a recurrence of breast cancer for at least ten years. I take a daily medication called tamoxifen which does have side effects like all drugs but these need to be managed as the medication gives me the best chance of a longer life and being here for my children. I'm currently considering changing to a medication which will give me slightly more 'life' benefit but will reduce my bone density and given the fact that I've recently been diagnosed with osteoporosis it's a big decision. These decisions will never stop but I'm just glad to be here to be able to make them. I'm now three years clear and am really enjoying my family and my work as an arts teacher at my son's school. There are no guarantees in life but I've learnt to appreciate every moment as life really is too short and so precious and for now my motto is 'keep on keeping on!'

............on Tuesday the 9th of February 2016 I was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. I have breast cancer metastasis in my sternum. I am now living with a terminal illness. My medical oncologist has changed my medication and I will also begin bisphosphonate injections soon too. I didn't want this but it will apparently give me the best chance of survival. I will need more chemo in the future but for now I hope my medication will control and even stop the growth of my cancer. I do not know how long I will live for but I hope for the sake of my children, Hudson 8, Asher 3 and Brynn 3 that I can manage and control my disease for many years to come. Like all mums, I want to be here for my children and I'd dearly love to meet my grandchildren.

____________________________________________________________

….on Thursday the 11th of March I received my MRI results. The news is devastating Wayde and I are so so sad. A pain that I have recently been having my right hip is metastic breast cancer. My left hip is also affected by the cancer. There are spots all through my pelvic bones. Also a terrible pain in my right rib is cancer. My sternum is heavily infected with cancer. I am shattered. My children need their mummy and daddy. Sometimes life is so unfair. Soon I will go to Brisbane for a PET scan. It will give further information about the spread of this disease in my body. For now though my treatment will remain the same and I desperately hope it keeps working for me. Wayde is trying very hard to keep us all together but it really is such an emotional drain.

… on Monday the 14th of March…the surgeon recommends full right hip replacement with metal rod almost all the way to my knee BUT I need another lower legs MRI because they can see another tumour midway down between my hip and knee! The first MRI pic cuts it off so he can't see how far down it goes! Oh my can it get any worse??
The orthopaedic surgeon needs to see what condition that femur bone is in for him to connect the rod to. He's recommending radiation on that hip after the hip replacement. 
I can have radiation on the other hip and other bones with cancer in them to reduce pain but the right hip is too far gone. The rads of other bones can be earlier but am seeing the rads onc on Friday to check this! 
I don't have to have the hip surgery done straight away but am thinking late this year or early next. He said it will need to be done eventually as it will definitely break. If it beaks in the mean time I would need a hip replacement then anyway. He said I must have a very high pain threshold because the size and spread of the tumour in the bone is extensive to the point where the whole hip ball and a good section of the femur itself is affected and it looks very painful! 
I'm so sad. 


I've started my bone strengthening injections today too. They can cause severe bone and joint pain but not too bad so far.
My PET scan is coming up very soon. I'm worried about it. More stress! Please pray for good PET scan results. I don't need any more bad news.