Aspen Medical Fiji Chief Executive Officer, Annette Owttrim is a warrior for breast cancer.

It has been five years since Ms Owttrim was diagnosed with the deadly disease.

Sharing her tough journey during the Pinktober celebration at the Lautoka Hospital last week, Ms Owttrim spoke on the importance of Pinktober to her.

She said her cancer journey lasted more than two years.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t have an easy journey with breast cancer,” she said.

“It resulted in a mastectomy but I am a very lucky person because I was fortunate enough to be in Australia to be diagnosed and treated and to have advanced treatment that, at the moment, we don’t have in Fiji,” said Ms Owttrim.

“But because of my passion and because I can stand here today fit and healthy I place emphasis on everything in the hospital but certainly Pinktober.”

“My journey went on for nearly two and a half years and it was very stressful for my family and myself.

‘There was support I got from the breast cancer nurses and I think that is something that we will look to in the future here,

“To have more dedicated staff who can provide the support to the family.”

Plans For Treatment

In the future, Fijians can expect advanced treatments for breast cancer.

“So instead of having to have a mastectomy, the women of Fiji in the future will be able to have the lump removed,” she said.

“We don’t want breast cancer to be a major killer in Fiji because it is a very treatable disease and that’s where we want to take it in the next five years.”

Ms Owttrim is encouraging women and men to check their breasts regularly and visit a clinic if a lump is found.

Feedback: nicolette.chambers@fijisun.com.fj