Camp Quality helps Lisa’s family reconnect and find joy

“The thing that helped me get through this battle was mindset, staying fit and eating clean, the support from my family, friends and colleagues as well as Camp Quality,” says Lisa.

In May 2025, Lisa received the shocking and devastating news that she had breast cancer. She has always told her kids that they are the heroes of her cancer story, as they were the first ones who noticed that something was wrong.

“I was reading to my children, and my daughter said to me, ‘Mum, why do you keep rubbing your breast?’ I went into my room and pressed a little bit harder, and there was a lump.”

Lisa went straight to the GP the following morning to get an ultrasound.

“As soon as I saw it, I knew it was cancerous. I’ve had many ultrasounds in my time, and I’ve had regular lumps that were very easy to point out on the scan, dark and circular. This one was a scary grey thing with legs.”

Lisa didn’t want to waste any time and went to the Sydney Breast Clinic the following day to get a diagnosis before the weekend. After a full day of tests, including biopsies and ultrasounds, the doctors had what they needed to confirm that she had malignant tissue in her left breast. Within three weeks, Lisa had interviewed and found a surgeon.

Lisa’s two kids, Isaac and Sofia, were eight and ten at the time, and she decided not to use the word ‘cancer’ yet.

“We did it on a need-to-know basis. We celebrated them being the ones to find my lump, saving mummy, and for them, it was just a lump at that stage, a ‘bad lump that needed to come out. We didn’t need to use the word cancer yet, because there wasn’t any chemo on the cards.”

“By the 28th of May, I’d had my double mastectomy with reconstruction and spent a week at St Vincents Private hospital. The surgeon and nurses were all so amazing and I felt incredibly well supported”

Before surgery, Lisa was told that she may not need chemotherapy. She was worried that the mastectomy would not be enough and opted to send her breast tissue the the US for genetic testing.

“The [oncotype DX] test said, absolutely with fluorescent lights, that I needed chemotherapy. My cancer was aggressive and it was not one to be passive with”

Before commencing chemotherapy, Lisa sat down with her children and told them the news that she had cancer and used the help of some child appropriate books to help them better understand what would follow.

“They needed to know that I would be able to do less, would be very tired and had to be very very careful not to get sick”. Lisa told them that “whilst Mummy’s not going to be able to take you to all your sporting and schooling events, Daddy will, and so will Nunna and Poppy and some of our family friends.”

“My kids are both beautiful little souls. They are incredibly supportive and understanding and have been so patient with it all. I put them both into counselling at school just to make sure they had someone to talk to, and some support there, and that was really useful. I feel like we’ve navigated it well as a team.”

Lisa started her first cycle of chemotherapy in July and completed her fourth in September 2025. She opted for Chris O’Brien Lifehouse for treatment and had someone she loved with her at every single treatment to keep her company. In this way, she kept it light and was able to be distracted from the intermittent pain and discomfort associated with her ice socks and gloves used to prevent nerve damage.

During her treatment, Lisa was amazed by the way her community rallied around her and her family.

“I had beautiful, beautiful support around me through my parents, my children, my friends, my colleagues and the father of my children, even though we’re separated.”

“My mum just got in there and got things done, she took care of running the house for me which allowed me to heal and I will be eternally grateful”. My best friends established a ‘Team Bridge’ WhatsApp group and these girls were simply amazing in the way they all supported me.

“I always had someone by my side. I always felt supported. There were people coming and picking up the kids and taking them to their hobbies, dropping off food, bringing me all the luxury things whilst I was at home. It was a positive experience of a pretty shitty diagnosis.”

After her first cycle of chemotherapy, Lisa’s hair started falling out. Even after the surgery, Lisa knew this could be one of the biggest ‘mum has cancer’ moments for her kids and wanted to make sure they had a positive experience.

“I knew it was going to go, so we scheduled a really fun crazy haircuts night. We divided my hair into two, set up the camera for the memories and the kids were given free rein go nuts on each side. They did some crazy haircuts, styles and some “interesting” designs with the clippers. We made it a really positive, fun bonding moment rather than a sad, mummy’s losing her hair moment. We played music and we laughed. It was more, ‘let’s do this together’ and that worked wonders.”

“We divided my hair into two, set up the camera for the memories and the kids were given free rein go nuts on each side.”

After sharing videos of her crazy haircuts on social media, Lisa was amazed to find that people resonated with her experience, turning what could have been a sad night into something fun and exciting that she could share with her kids.

“I’m really glad I did it that way. We didn’t need to cry about it. It’s just hair and, low and behold, now I’m keeping my hair bald. I’ve decided to embrace it. I’m fine with how it looks, and I like the social awareness. ‘Why can’t women embrace a new chapter without feeling ashamed and the need to wear a wig?!’ I get a lot of people not knowing what to say, and I love being able to help them feel comfortable talking about my cancer and sharing their own personal stories with me, “I’m enjoying the social awareness, challenging the norms of people staring at a woman if she’s bald. Maybe she’s choosing to be bald, or if cancer made her be bald, then let her be bald. Let her not have to spend $5,000 on a wig.”

On the last day of her treatment, Lisa’s friends surprised her in the hospital to celebrate and watch her ring the bell.

“My two best friends, Amanda and Fiona surprised me on the last day, they dressed up in full cheerleader outfits with pom-poms and then just came in and did a cheer for me in the waiting room. And it was the funniest, most magical mix of emotions I’ve ever had in my life.”

Lisa registered her family with Camp Quality just before starting chemotherapy. After she finished her final cycle, she booked in for a Family Fun Day at Luna Park.

Camp Quality also offered them a Family Retreat down the south coast of NSW at NRMA Murramarang Beachfront Resort just after Christmas. After spending more time together during her treatment, Lisa asked her kids’ father to join them.

“The cancer has brought us all back together. We are spending a lot more time together as a family. And the holiday offered to us by Camp Quality was just such a beautiful way for us to bond.”

While on the Retreat, they swam in the ocean, visited the zoo, and shared smiles and laughter.

“All of the lovely adventures that have been provided to help my children feel a sense of normality and joy, and also to provide moments for creating memories and bonding. It was just life-changing for us.”

Lisa is now in remission, and her doctors are positive. She is now on hormone blockers which brings its own set of challenges but she is embracing them using her life motto – Amor Fati (embrace your fate). Lisa uses the support of a naturopath and eats incredibly clean and dedicates half of every day to her health. You will find her at the gym most days.

Lisa is slowly making a comeback to her mortgage broking business, Stellar Finance Group. Since registering with Camp Quality and experiencing the support they offer and the difference, they make to families affected by cancer, Lisa knew she wanted to give back. She now donates a portion of each settlement she makes in her business to Camp Quality.

“Once this happened to me and I learned about what Camp Quality can do, I just couldn’t think of a better place for me to give back to.”