By Abby Wallace More like this
Dance teacher Marsha Schaefer wasn’t expecting a breast cancer diagnosis. But after seeing a friends’s social media post, something clicked. She checked her breasts, found a lump, and acted quickly.
“I immediately called my doctor, who sent me for a mammogram, ultrasound and later a biopsy,” Marsha reflects.
The diagnosis was triple negative breast cancer, a fast-growing and aggressive form of the disease that required urgent treatment.
At 44, the devastating news caught Marsha off guard and flipped her world upside down.
“My initial thought was, I was letting my family down,” Marsha remembers. “I’ve got three boys, and my youngest was nine at the time.”
She adds, “They took it as best as they could. My youngest told me it was all a bad dream and I’d wake up and be okay – and I had to believe him.”
Living in Armidale meant Marsha faced a daily three-hour round trip to Tamworth for her radiotherapy – all for a 20-minute appointment.
“That’s hours on the road every day – it’s exhausting. The travel alone wears you out,” Marsha says.
That’s where Cancer Council stepped in.
“A friend told me about the Transport to Treatment service, and I got in contact with Cancer Council,” Marsha explains. “They not only arranged transport to Tamworth, they also helped coordinate my appointments so everything aligned. I’m truly grateful for that service. It was just one less thing to think about.”
Throughout her treatment – including five months of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy – Marsha held on tightly to the things she loved most: her family, her students and her love of dance.
“I love to dance. It brings me so much joy. I think I’m truly a little girl in a grown-up’s body,” she says. “I’ve danced since I was about six years old, and it’s just part of who I am.”
Now cancer-free and back teaching, Marsha, is using dance as a way to help others. Earlier this year, she performed in STARS of Armidale, a community fundraiser that pairs local ‘stars’ with dance teachers to raise money for those affected by cancer.
“During my treatment, I just wanted to get back to dancing,” she says. “STARS felt like the perfect way to give back. My husband and I dancing together – it was a joy. It was a celebration of what we’ve been through and a way to raise money for a cause that means so much to us.”
Marsha isn’t just sharing her story out of sheer gratitude for surviving – she’s hoping it will create a ripple effect, helping others along the way.
“I need to pay it forward,” she says. “If I hadn’t seen that post, I wouldn’t have checked my breasts, and who knows what might’ve happened.”
For Marsha, it’s about empowering more women in rural communities to get a mammogram.
She says, “Early detection saved my life. If I didn’t find the lump when I did, I might not be here today. It’s such a quick process – just go and do it.”
Nowadays, Marsha feels fantastic. “I’m living my best life. I’m back teaching dance and enjoying life with my kids and family. I feel very grateful to be in this position,” she says.
Marsha wants others going through breast cancer to know that help is available – and it’s okay to ask for it.
“You don’t have to do this alone. Cancer Council offers so many services – just call 13 11 20,” she says. “They’ll guide you through what’s available. It can make a tough time a little bit easier.”
To read personal stories of breast cancer survivors in Australia, visit Cancer Council NSW’s blog.
Early detection saves lives. To learn more or download free information booklets, visit our breast cancer page.
If you or someone you know is affected by cancer, call Cancer Council’s support line on 13 11 20.