Fighter: Sgt Nancy Miller has lost the use of her left arm in her battle to survive breast cancer, and she’s continuing to fight by helping raise funds for research. Photo by Les Siwek
A SOLDIER faced a battle of a different kind when she was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.
Sgt Nancy Miller, Operations Sergeant at the School of Signals, was undergoing her regular mammogram in January 2005 when the scan showed some grey areas.
“I had a biopsy and it came back with a positive diagnosis of breast cancer.
I was informed at the medical centre at Simpson Barracks,” she said.
“When I found out I was devastated. I didn’t go back to work for a couple of hours because I just couldn’t face people here in the state that I was in. I went to the Defence Community Organisation because there were people there that could give me support that I needed in the immediate situation.”
Sgt Miller underwent surgery and radiation treatment and returned to full-time work in October 2005.
“I’ve fully recovered now and I have ongoing check ups which is part of the process of any cancer,” she said.
“Physically it took a while to recover and a full 12 months to acknowledge that I didn’t have the full use of my left arm anymore.”
Sgt Miller received support from family, friends, colleagues and organisations such as the Cancer Council of Australia during her illness.
To show her appreciation of the Cancer Council she became involved in Pink Ribbon Day, organised by the Council to raise funds for breast cancer research.
Sgt Miller will attend a Pink Ribbon Day breakfast at 9am at the Simpson Barracks Sergeants’ Mess on October 1.
Entry is $10 and is open to all members. For further details phone (03) 9450 7582.
